City Secrets Books: The Essential Insider's Guide
Fang Duff Kahn Publishers - US$19.95

I bought this intriguing, appealing pocket size book while in NYC over the Christmas holidays and it is giving me much delight back here in New Zealand on an occasional pick up and browse basis.

As the publishers say on their compact and attractive website it is an illuminating compendium of personal essays by a 158 strong all-star line-up of novelists, poets, playwrights, booksellers, editors, critics, and humorists, all of whom have recommended an under-appreciated or little-known work of literature.

The book is comprised of short, often anecdotal essays that share personal, affectionate accounts of why a contributor's particular choice of book deserves to be rediscovered and read anew. Nearly every genre is included, in every manner of fiction and non-fiction, including history, biography, autobiography, memoir, humor, nature, crime writing, war reportage, and science fiction.
Warmly recommended to all you booklovers out there.

And while on the subject of New York I must recommend The New York Mapguide as the best of the many street guides that are available.

Over the 30+ years I have been visiting that great city I have tried just about all of them but there is no question in my mind that this is the best one - beautifully designed, in full colour, 16 pages of useful information at the back of the map section, slender to fit in the pocket, just tailor-made for any visitor.
Published by Penguin - US$10. 5th edition.