The Heart of the World

by Nik Cohn

Chronicles the author's stroll down the "Great White Way" accompanied by two eccentric guides--a postmodern punk and a cross-dressing hooker--who provide insight into the shocking and saddening population of Broadway

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, New York, The United States Of America, History

371 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 1992

About the author

Cohn is considered by some critics to be a father of rock criticism, thanks to his time on The Observer's early rock column entitled The Brief and his first major book Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom, first published in 1969. Cohn has since published articles, novels and music books regularly.

Reviews

[Géraldine · Rating 2 out of 5]

À relire éventuellement car aucun souvenir.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t very impressed this book which was a travel book of Broadway in Manhattan. The author traveled up and down the street in the early 80s. He muses on its history and present in a steam of consciousness form. I found snatches of the book interesting. Especially the take of Chang and Eng, the Siamese twins. I was unaware that PT Barnum was the man who created the theatrical tradition on Broadway. It was interest to read about Robert Moses and his hand in NYC. Unfortunately the rest is too obscure and clear to make much sense. Broadway in the 80s was still a backwater day f sex shops and the poor. The homeless began moving in as Reagan released a large number of institutional patients and left them on the street. Overall, a disappointing book.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Nik Cohn book and definitely not my last despite not totally loving this. It just didn’t work for me as a novel or anything more than a tapestry of interconnected segments. The writing itself was excellent and the characters were engaging and Cohn’s skill as a dialogue writer is sharp as as a blade. But it felt all flower no stem.

[Bamboozlepig · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting idea, but meh on execution. It's hard to follow and it's like listening to the crazy guy on the subway ranting about how M&M's are evil and are going to take over the world in 2024.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read a walk up Broadway and writing of its history and New York City.One of the best books on New York.l highly recommend this boom

[Cindy Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a review of one of my all time favorite books. I need to read it again. I'm a fan a novels that bring life in NYC alive. Especially historical tales.

Nik Cohn ushers readers along the street he calls "The Heart of the World." producing a book that is a resplendent pageant of New York's high-and low-life. Among the characters we meet are a golden-tongued cab driver who calls himself a "collector of farces"; a pickpocket with the terrifying gift of impersonating his marks; a heartbreakingly beautiful Dominican tranvestite named Lush Life; strippers; pseudo-prophets; and a disgraced political veteran of the days when the graft was still honest. Conducted by a writer with the manic energy of a sideshow barker and the full-blooded lyricism of a raucous poet, this is a bebop odyssey along the Great White Way that reaches in implication far beyond the streets of New York to document the ever-evolving mixtures that make up America itself.

[William Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WONDERFUL FELICITY WITH LANGUAGE, DELICIOUS CHARACTERS AND A GREAT CENTRAL IDEA - ALL THE WORLD IN ONE STREET. BROADWAY. ESSENTIAL READING WHILST IN NEW YORK (ESPECIALLY THE BARS!).

[Gary Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating 363 page walk down Broadway from end to end.

[Simone]

Entertaining though I've never been to NY. Didn't finish it.