Deirdre Mask's Address Book: Keep Track of Your Contacts and Stay Connected

Stephen in PA: Greatly enjoyed this well written and thoroughly researched book.

United States on Jul 08, 2023

Maiara: Comprei pelo Kindle. Livro importantíssimo e atual para quem quer/precisa conhecer mais sobre endereços, de uma maneira global, e ter boas referências.

Brazil on Jun 05, 2023

Helen: I had no idea what I was getting into, but found a fascinating history. Of all parts of the world. I did not read chapters in order, just what appealed to me at the time. But the more you read, the more you are intrigued. I love learning unusual facts too - or reasons for things we have taken for granted. There is a lot of disturbing history presented too (MLK for example). But the people are really brought to life, in every century.

United States on Feb 20, 2023

Curious Epicure: I mostly enjoyed this book. It contains a lot of interesting and well-researched historical information intertwined with pointed criticism of a lot of badly-done urban development. The book is pretty non-linear in scope, so at times it seems like it's jumping all over the place which may be bothersome to some readers. I'm a fairly divergent thinker, so I went with it.

I always hope for balance when I'm reading non-fiction, but this book has a pointed focus on negativity that seems to have been a choice. While there are ample valid reasons to criticize housing development, it should also be put in the context of what was happening at the time. For instance, the waves of immigrants coming to early New York City had to be housed in some speedy fashion. Perhaps development might have happened in a more elegant fashion had the city been able to say "Wait, keep those immigrants out until we can plan and build the perfect urban habitat for them," but reality dictated otherwise and that's somewhat important to keep in mind.

In general, the book is pretty negative in tone and it seems that examples were chosen to reinforce the negativity. It's unfortunate...

United States on Nov 16, 2022

Peer Sylvester: Adressen gehören zu den Dingen, die wir als gegeben hinnehmen. Dabei gibt es immer noch viele Menschen auf der Welt, die keine haben - und nicht nur Obdachlose, auch Slumbewohner oder Menschen in sehr dünn besiedelten Gebieten haben keine. Warum das ein Problem ist, beschreibt Deirdre Mask. Aber das ist nur der Anfang der Reise: Mask geht der Geschichte der Adresse nach (Warum und wie netstanden Straßennamen und - nummern? Wieso benennt man Straßen in Europa, aber nummeriert sie in den USA? Und wieso hatten die Römer keine "richtigen" Adressen?). Doch damit nicht genug: Bald schlägt sie den Bogen zu Themen wie Vergangenheitsbewältigung (wie umgehen mit Straßennamen von problematischen historischen persönlichkeiten?) oder struktruellem Rassismus. Eine Adresse ist nicht unpolitisch und Mask zeigt wieso.
Das Buch ist wirklich gut geschrieben und voller "Fun Facts" (Der häufigste Strassenname in den USA ist "2nd Street"), aber auch guter Analysen. Ich lese gerne Bücher über Themen, über die ich noch nicht wirklich nachgedacht habe, um festszustellen, wie wichtig das Gebiet e igentlicb ist. Das ist hier absolut der Fall!

Germany on Sep 15, 2021

Ivan Guzman: The introduction has some great thoughts, and the main ideas are really mind-blowing. But I feel like it extends too much with stories instead of developing the main reflections the book has. It has potential and is still an interesting, recommendable read.

Mexico on May 26, 2021

Barb: Love this book! I’ve learned so much reading about a topic I never gave a second thought before. It is an engaging and surprising read! I am recommending it to my friends.

Canada on May 13, 2021

Cathryn Conroy: What is your address? The answer to that seemingly innocuous question reveals more about you than you probably ever considered. This fascinating book by Dierdre Mask explains everything you never knew about what your address means and what it can tell others about you—from your race to your income.

From the slums of Calcutta to the confusing layout of streets in Tokyo and from the hollows of West Virginia to the poshest avenues of Manhattan, Mask explores the history of numbering houses and naming streets. Find out why governments began numbering houses in the first place, the meanings behind various street names, the sometimes-nefarious political machinations of street naming and how such names can be used as propaganda, and how class and status are reflected in an address.

In addition to fun facts, such as how your street name can affect your home's value, Mask offers up remarkable tidbits on the backstories of street names in Berlin, New York City, South Korea, and parts of London. Find out the most common street name in America. (Hint: It's not Main Street. Or First Street.)

Consider the homeless. One of their worst problems is not...

United States on Feb 08, 2021

Carolien S: I studied town planning so this book took me back to my study days and continuing interest in cities. A fascinating look at the origin of addresses (the government needed to be able to find its citizens), the differences between cultures (do you name the street or the space around it), the process to allocate addresses and the protests against name changes over the centuries. Quite a few chapters in the book considers persons who are caught in a situation with no address either by location (squatter camps, etc) or circumstance (homelessness) and how that limits choices and options. The book is geographically very diverse – from Vienna to Seoul, Haiti to Pretoria and lots of places in between which I enjoyed. Really enjoyed this one and I will cherish my address much more in future.

United States on Jan 18, 2021

Pannonia: I endorse everything postive that other Reviewers have had to say - and also note how few niggles there were from others. I bought it for a friend, under the impresson that it was a humorous book about quaint addresses, then could not part with it for although there are a few bits and pieces like that, this book is a thorough and serious study , from a number of angles, of the importance of addresses. - and the often long-term, crippling consequences of not having one. Written by a literate and intelligent jourmalist, the book is readable and engrossing and I was very sorry when it ended. I would, if I could, take 1/.4 star away for the lack of photographs, which is not the author's fault of course. Photos would have enhanced an already high quality book. If the book runs into a second edition perhaps the author would consider adding something about pronunciation of addresses - eg local people undermining the intentions of housing committees by pronouncing pretentious or awkward street names as they see fit. East Ham has changed since I lived in London, I know, but I expect Baalam St. is still pronounced locally "Baa-lamb St." - I hope so, anyway.

United Kingdom on Oct 06, 2020