I agree with the prior reviews that lay out the many strengths of this remarkable book quite ably. I approach Grand Central Terminal from the perspective of an amateur historian interested in the history of the New York Central System of railroads. This book is quite simply the best work I've come across in terms of outlining the interrelationships between the Central system of railroads, and the greater New York City area. The author set out to explain why the station complex was designed as it is, and discovered the only way to do this (not surprisingly) was to develop an understanding of the functions the railroad that built it expected it to serve. I have not read a "railroad-themed" history that covers its chosen subject any better than this book does.