1. It’s an incredibly effective opening, as White does an excellent job of describing what I believe is everyone’s exact feelings towards New York. Privacy is most definitely a plausible gift, as it is something people generally seek out, and New York, while crowded, loud, and often cramped, can provide complete and much needed alone time among the ruckus in a simple corner booth of a restaurant or a park bench.

Loneliness is easily attainable here as well. Even in a city full of people, one can feel incredibly alone. Whether it’s in a packed subway car or a Baruch elevator, one can literally be surrounded by other bodies and yet be utterly alone. Or, live in a building be completely alone. New York is unique in that it offers this feeling, and you must actively seek people out to combat this.

2. How and why does the writer use lists in this book?

White uses lists to make points in his book. He uses lists to make the point that every single thing he lists, no matter how long the list may be, is incredibly important. That New York is the center of everything he lists, in no particular order. And that he is just blocks away from all these places that so many important events occurred, again, in no particular order of importance. He effectively shows the importance and the history of New York in his lists.