Higher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City

by Neal Bascomb

The Roaring Twenties in New York was a time of exuberant ambition, free-flowing optimism, an explosion of artistic expression in the age of Prohibition. New York was the city that embodied the spirit and strength of a newly powerful America. 

In 1924, in the vibrant heart of Manhattan, a fierce rivalry was born.  Two architects, William Van Alen and Craig Severance (former friends and successful partners, but now bitter adversaries), set out to imprint their individual marks on the greatest canvas in the world--the rapidly evolving skyline of New York City.  Each man desired to build the city’s tallest building, or ‘skyscraper.’ Each would stop at nothing to outdo his rival.

Van Alen was a creative genius who envisioned a bold, contemporary building that would move beyond the tired architecture of the previous century.  By a stroke of good fortune he found a larger-than-life patron in automobile magnate Walter Chrysler, and they set out to build the legendary Chrysler building.  Severance, by comparison, was a brilliant businessman, and he tapped his circle of downtown, old-money investors to begin construction on the Manhattan Company Building at 40 Wall Street. 

From ground-breaking to bricklaying, Van Alen and Severance fought a cunning duel of wills. Each man was forced to revamp his architectural design in an attempt to push higher, to overcome his rival in mid-construction, as the structures rose, floor by floor, in record time.  Yet just as the battle was underway, a third party entered the arena and announced plans to build an even larger building.  This project would be overseen by one of Chrysler’s principal rivals--a representative of the General Motors group--and the building ultimately became known as The Empire State Building.

Infused with narrative thrills and perfectly rendered historical and engineering detail, Higher brings to life a sensational episode in American history. Author Neal Bascomb interweaves characters such as Al Smith and Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt, leading up to an astonishing climax that illustrates one of the most ingenious (and secret) architectural achievements of all time.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Architecture, New York, Audiobook, Historical, Cities

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2003

About the author

Neal Bascomb is a national award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of a number of books, all non-fiction narratives, all focused on inspiring stories of adventure or achievement. His work has been translated into over 18 languages, featured in several documentaries, and optioned for major film and television projects.

Born in Colorado and raised in St. Louis, he is the product of public school and lots of time playing hockey. He earned a double degree in Economics and English Literature at Miami University (Ohio), lived in Europe for several years as a journalist (London, Dublin, and Paris), and worked as an editor at St. Martin’s Press (New York). In 2000, he started writing books full time.

His first book HIGHER was selected for the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writer award and was featured in a History Channel documentary. His second THE PERFECT MILE was a New York Times bestseller and frequently ranks as one of the top books on running. His third RED MUTINY won the United States Maritime Literature Award and critical acclaim around the world. His fourth HUNTING EICHMANN was an international bestseller and led to a young adult edition called NAZI HUNTERS that was the 2014 winner of the YALSA Award, Sydney Taylor Book Award (Gold Medal), among numerous others. His fifth book THE NEW COOL was optioned by major producer Scott Rudin for film. His sixth ONE MORE STEP, focused on the first man with cerebral palsy to climb Kilimanjaro and finish the Kona Ironman, was a New York Times bestseller as well.

An avid hiker, skier, and coffee drinker, he is happily settled in Seattle, Washington with his family.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was pretty disappointing which is difficult because I had low expectations for it in the first place. It is about New York architecture after all. Before I get into the biggest issues, I'll mention a few basic problems. The entire set up is a little awkward. It's laid out as a competition between two former partners, one builds the Chrysler Building, the other builds the Manhattan Company Building (currently the Trump Tower), then 2/3 of the way through the book, the team that designs the Empire State Building shows up out of nowhere. The writing is often clumsy. "In the morning the steel arrived at Thirty-third Street. Eighty hours before it was being rolled in a Pittsburgh mill." was one of many passages that caught me and I had to reread to understand what the author meant. The way it's written, it sounds like the steel arrived at 83rd St eighty hours before being in a Pittsburgh mill. This is a great example of why commas are so important.

Beyond structural and writing problems, there are architectural problems. The author gives a short history of the development of the skyscraper. He mentions a total of one Chicago skyscraper. Marginalizing Chicago's contribution to the development of the skyscraper is like the new testament without Jesus. I understand the author participated in two documentaries on architectural history, but I started to question the range of his knowledge. After ignoring Chicago's importance, he mentions it several times later in the book. The Starrett brothers, the construction company that built the Manhattan and Empire State Buildings, started working in Chicago where he says the witnessed the birth of the skyscraper. He mentions Daniel Burnham as the designer of many early skyscrapers. He poaches a quote from Louis Sullivan's essay on how to design skyscrapers without explaining or even fully understanding the context. New York architects didn't really know what to do with their early skyscrapers so they designed them as different three story buildings stacked on top of each other. They were pretty schizophrenic. Sullivan wrote his essay to teach architects how to design skyscrapers. It seems like Bascomb didn't really see the forest for the trees. It seems like he would closely research a specific architect, builder, or building without understanding the overall context.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found that I love to read historical non-fiction books about great building related projects(see my reviews of: Brunelleschi's Dome; Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling) and then traveling to see the structures in person. As with these others, I loved the historical background, historical context, the personalities, interrelationships, and competition of egos that went into the great race to build the worlds tallest buildings that in the process establish New York as the greatest city on Earth all during the run up to the Great Depression. Whether you have been, plan to, or never get to New York to stand in the shadows, marvel from within, and gaze from the tops of these gargantuan structures: you cannot hope to ever appreciate the epic coalescence of the powerful forces of wills, creativity, labor, money, technologies, materials, and the historical backdrop upon which it all happened without doing the research yourself, or simply reading and enjoying this well written account of their birth.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1920's was all about reaching new heights in America - the roaring 20's emphasized a fast-paced lifestyle where there were no limits. It was this "anything goes" attitude that led to the construction of skyscrapers in New York City that were just as much a symbol of the times as they were practical business investments. In this book that chronicles the race to be the tallest between 3 New York landmarks - the Chrysler Building, 40 Wall Street, and The Empire State Building - egos collide, markets tumble, and relationship are broken. The author weaves a very readable tale that focuses on both the financial and architectural icons who led to the construction of these buildings. If bricks and mortar also interest you, then this will do the trick as well. Throughout the book you are taken to the construction sites and learn what its like to catch a burning hot rivet a quarter mile up in the air, all while balancing on a single beam and bracing against high winds and frigid temperatures. Overall, a very good book that manages to tell the "story" of these now prominent buildings.

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew?

[Harley P. Abrams]

GREAT quick read ! Loved it and learned a lot

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this audio up at a Library sale. I've had good luck with the random non-fiction I've picked up and I figured that if a publisher went to the effort of making it into audio format, it must be good. This was a poor use of logic on my part. The telling was disappointing.

I had a hard time differentiating between the two main characters. The narration was so slow I had to speed it up to make it workable. There were bits and parts that were interesting to the telling, but they were the side elements. For example, the a ha of how the shape of a bird cage and its steel could be used to support a far greater weight at a far smaller use of space - rather than feet thicknesses of stone or brick. Or how the workers tossed hot rivets up the levels. Or the impact of the start of the Great Depression. That was far more interesting than the "race" between them.

[Melsene G · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story. As a native New Yorker, I'm rather annoyed that I never learned any of this stuff in school. This type of history must be included in the school curricula. I love history and am shaking my head as I write this because it is outrageous that kids, teenagers, and college students don't learn any real history. It's such a shame.

The NY skyline is amazing. Ever wonder how it got there? Start with this book and delve in and learn about the builders and the architects. The time period is the 1920s and you'll learn about the erection of the Chrysler building, the Manhattan Building, the Empire State Building, and the pioneers that were involved. The Great Depression figures in and is covered as well. You will get to know Walter Chrysler, William Van Alen, Craig Severance, Al Smith, John Jacob Raskob and other prominent figures of the day.

When you're done with this book, try "The Power Broker" and see how the bridges, tunnels, and highways were built in NY and learn about Bob Moses. I repeat, history needs to be told, and good storytellers make it amazing! Thank you Mr. Bascomb!

[Earl Schlubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've been interested in Manhattan's architecture for a while now, so it was fascinating to learn of this "race" and the personalities behind it. I had no idea that the Empire State Building, for example, was in many ways a symbol of the growing power and wealth of the automobile industry—and it is of course obvious that the Chrysler Bldg. (Nomen est omen) was as well.
I think that an excellent "Part II" to this book would be an extended treatment of Rockefeller Center, built under similar circumstances (during the Depression) and in proximity to two of this book's multistory "main characters."
I could have used a few more deep dives into the techie side of things, like exactly how crews use machinery to build toward the sky, but there was certainly enough here to whet my appetite.
I would gladly read another book by Mr. Bascomb and would recommend this to anyone interested in architecture in NYC, but especially to those who would like to learn more about finance and real estate in Manhattan.

[Mike Violano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higher tells the story of three big buildings and the architects and bigger than life personalities that played roles in the design, financing and completion of 40 Wall Street, the Chrysler Building and the biggest of the skyscraper age the Empire State Building. All three skyscrapers were conceived during the last days of the roaring 20s a time of rampant prosperity, grand ambitions, easy money and oversized egos. There was a race to the clouds between Craig Severance and William Van Arlen former colleagues turned rival and competitors. Severance was the man behind 40 Wall Street (now the or a Trump named building). Van Arlen worked for and with William Chrysler, auto designer extraordinaire. When both those buildings were nearly completed the stock market crashed just as the Empire State Building started to rise. All three buildings struggled to find tenants and survive during the depression The epilogue is a rather sad end story about all the characters involved.
The book would have benefited from a few more photographs would have brought the building of the buildings to life.

[Mark Adkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a hard book to review. I picked up this book not knowing anything about it as I had read a previous book by the author, Neal Bascomb and liked it. Unfortunately that book was about a subject that I was interested in, WWII, this book is about architecture and the building of skyscrapers, something I have no interest in.

While the author did a good job in presenting the information and I thought that the writing was well done the subject he was writing about I just have no interest in, this made it a long boring read. If you are into architecture and the building of skyscrapers then I recommend this book.

They say you can never judge a book by its cover, however, if I had bothered to read the blurb about this book then I would probably have skipped this book and moved onto one of the authors other books.

[Kristjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable account of a race to build the highest skyscraper in the world. This took place in the late 1920's and early 1930's. I did not know much about this and I actually thought the Empire State Building had been built much later. Interesting portraits of the owners, architects, and builders, as well as the history of those three buildings since. This book is 15 years old, but has aged well.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not the best book to listen to for someone who is scared of heights, but it was a fascinating look at the history of skyscrapers and the race to build the tallest building in New York (and the world). I loved that Bascomb also provided this history within the broader context of society at the time, and included so much about the architects, the builders and workers, and the people financing the buildings.

[Othym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently visited the Empire State Building, I was looking for a book that explained the history of the famous skyscraper. This book did not disappoint. The author not only explains the history of the Empire State Building, he has described the histories of the Chrysler Building and the Manhattan Company Building. This book is fascinating as it follows big personalities who competed to build to build the highest skyscraper in the world.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting read on the race between the Chrysler and the Empire State Buildings to become the tallest building in New York City. Also both of these buildings are beautiful unlike the the taller buildings that have followed. This book also goes into the Roaring 20s and goes into the effects of the market falling.

How did this book find me? I had been introduced to Neal Bascomb's books and this was available on Aubible+ until September 16.

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, well researched book.

I found the book hard to put down. Extremely well researched, and amazing details on the people who had a dream, and saw it through. The only thing missing would be more photographs of the construction of each building. Highly recommend this book.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting and engaging book about the race in the late 1920s to build the tallest building in the world, with excellent accounts of the design and construction of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, intertwined with accounts of the ego-driven competition of the builders and architects. A good solid four stars.

[Sabina Colleran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fascinating read! I work in NYC and never knew the story of the Trump building I've been to (because of the Duane read in the lobby of it). Bascomb did a wonderful job with the story behind these buildings and how they were so entrenched in the history of the eras they were built in. I highly recommend!

[Jerry Borrowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love architecture, particularly the Art Deco buildings of the 1920s and 1930s. This is an intriguing way to learn about the building of the Empire State Building, Manhattan Trust, and Chrysler Buildings, and the competition that drove their designers and builders. One of the few books I've read twice.

[Emily Hewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give this book 3.5 stars. It was a bit uninteresting to me in some chapters and more interesting in others. Perhaps that’s because I don’t have a background in construction or architecture so I didn’t understand a lot of the building terminology. I also agree with another reviewer who said the author wrote in a way that made his sentences longer and more complicated/confusing than necessary.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting but I would have preferred learning more about the workers on the various projects examined, especially the Chrysler building, one of my favorite buildings in NY. Overall this book is a page turner and explores the history of skyscrapers of NY City. If you are interested in this topic you will enjoy the book.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skyscraper Story

An interesting book about the conception, financing and the building of three tall skyscrapers in New York City. Definitely the most interesting is the Chrysler Building. The stories make you want to visit the buildings just to see the wonders described here

[Vicente Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing Non-Computer Achievement

This is a fascinating retro-look at what the competitive spirit of men with strong determination were able to accomplish with what we will now consider "primitive" technology.

[Louis Prontnicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bascomb's style is engaging and educational. The concluding chapter about what happened to the men who built these skyscrapers reminded me of the message of Ecclesiastes: vanity, vanity, all is vanity.

[Bea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This may be good if you are really interested in architecture and all the details about building skyscrapers. There is a little competition and rivalry in the story, but it just wasn't interesting enough to me to keep reading it.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of the race to the top between , mostly, the Chrysler Building and the Manhattan Bank, now Trump Tower with a final chapter or two on the Empire State Building.

Could have used a lot more pictures though

[Delynn Bodine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the history of building of high rise towers in New York and other cities.

[Katie Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry. Very dry.

I had to read this book for one of my courses, and it was a pain to get through.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting facts, but a relatively dry approach.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly superficial account of 3 NYC landmarks and the men who built them. The author is sometimes given to elegiac strains, perhaps appropriate, given the grand way these men saw themselves and the time - on the cusp of a new age that never came, or ended unexpectedly, depending on how you look at it.

He also makes frequent and frustrating allusions to peoples and technical processes that he does not care to explain, making them useless to include unless one understands their context. I don't mean to say that an author should unnecessarily condescend to his readers, but aloofness in a popular work such as this comes across as merely false intellectualism, rather than a compliment to a knowledgeable readership. Then again, it doesn't hurt to force someone to do a little concurrent research. I was constantly looking up terms, as well as pictures of the building processes.

Worth reading - I think that building rivalry could make a good centerpiece for a drama about the period, perhaps with dramatic license. Plenty of interesting quotes and ideas here.

[Faith Baboolal (Tuttle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had started reading this book for a report in college, and was intrigued enough to buy it and finish it a few years later. It's an interesting read for those who enjoy learning about the beginnings of New York's skyline and the certain types of architect-client relationships it takes to make such a grand mark in the city's history. Bascomb does a wonderful job of describing the lives and toll it took on everyone involved, from automobile magnate Walter Chrysler to the four men that make up a structural steel riveting team. There is no grand moral or message, but then again it is a history book, and so it reads as a narrative with a lot of well-researched facts and related quotes.