Mahler revisits the tumultuous year of 1977 in New York City focusing on the clashes between Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo in the race for mayor, and Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson for dominance over the New York Yankees. In addition to this Mahler captures the essence of the city in politics, SoHo art galleries, punk rock, Studio 54, and the Son of Sam murders. The book moves along in illuminating if episodic chapters until the devastating central section where in clipped, police report style prose Mahler recreates the horror of the blackout of 1977 and the looting and arson that erupted in Bushwick and other neighborhoods. 1977 is a transformative year in New York history (and its hard to believe all of this happened in the same year), and definitely the moment when New York hit rock bottom. I found myself oddly nostalgic reading this book. Not that I miss the widespread violence and hopelessness of the time, but the names and places remind me of the old New York of my childhood and the good things that were lost in the yuppification of 80’s and 90’s. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a long while. ( )

Mahler ably weaves several story lines--including the Son of Sam murders, Reggie Jackson and the New York Yankees pennant chase, the Democratic mayoral primary, and the blackout--to paint a fascinating picture of New York in 1977. ( )

Interesting, but not particularly well-written. This book chronicles the summer of 1977 in NYC, during which there was a particularly violent blackout, Son of Sam was on the loose, the Koch/Cuomo mayoral race was in full swing, and the Yankees acquired Reggie Jackson and won the world series. About as much of the book is spent on the baseball as on the general NYC history. Worthwhile if you're (1) a huge Yankees fan, or (2) really into NYC history. ( )