Forget dusty history books. Max Millard's 100 New Yorkers of the 1970s is a direct line to the past. The concept is beautifully simple: find 100 people on the streets of New York City in the 1970s, photograph them, and record their thoughts.

The Story

There's no traditional plot. Instead, Millard acts as a guide, introducing us to a cross-section of the city. On one page, you might meet a weary subway token clerk. Flip it, and you're reading the philosophical musings of a Greenwich Village poet. A Wall Street broker shares the page with a community gardener in the Bronx. Each entry is a portrait and a short interview, capturing their worries, hopes, and opinions about everything from politics and crime to art and the changing neighborhoods.

Why You Should Read It

This book has a powerful, quiet energy. It's not about celebrities or major events; it's about the texture of daily life. You feel the city's pulse through these voices—the struggle, the pride, the cynicism, and the wild optimism. Reading it feels like overhearing a hundred different conversations on a long subway ride. It reminds you that history is made by everyone, not just the names in headlines.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves New York, oral history, or human stories. If you enjoy people-watching or wonder what your city was like decades ago, you'll get lost in this. It's a warm, insightful, and often surprising collection that celebrates the ordinary people who make a place extraordinary.