On the High Line: The Definitive Guide

charts the history of the famed and controversial New York City space known as the High Line, a public park that’s built on a historic inactive freight rail line above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side. The controversy comes into play with a discussion about the High Line’s gentrifying effects on its neighborhood. Divided into eight sections, the book features points of interest—both popular and lesser known—and stunning photographs (with a full gallery accessible online). The text highlights the site’s hidden treasures and is an ideal blend of the High Line’s history and its present, discussing the Manhattan Refrigerating Company warehouse that was turned into luxury apartments, the Narnia-like existence of Thirteenth Avenue, the oft-photographed Standard Hotel, the awe-inspiring rollout of the Shed (a cultural institution that showcases innovative art and ideas), and the Death Avenue Amphitheater. The area around the park also now holds the Whitney Museum and a jogging trail, which bring many New Yorkers and tourists together.