Bender (history, New York U.), in a series of 14 essays, explores issues of metropolitan culture as it developed in New York City. He discusses how places and built features of the city such as Washington Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the skyscraper reveal key transformations in the scale of metropolitan space and the character of culture. The social organization of metropolitan life is examined through explorations of art, intellectual pursuits, and public culture. Finally, the political history of cities and New York is discussed with reference to relations between cities and regions and the nature of cities in the era of globalization. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)