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Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,224 ratings
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An endlessly entertaining portrait of the city of Amsterdam and the ideas that make it unique, by the author of the acclaimed Island at the Center of the World

Tourists know Amsterdam as a picturesque city of low-slung brick houses lining tidy canals; student travelers know it for its legal brothels and hash bars; art lovers know it for Rembrandt's glorious portraits.

But the deeper history of Amsterdam, what makes it one of the most fascinating places on earth, is bound up in its unique geography-the constant battle of its citizens to keep the sea at bay and the democratic philosophy that this enduring struggle fostered. Amsterdam is the font of liberalism, in both its senses. Tolerance for free thinking and free love make it a place where, in the words of one of its mayors, "craziness is a value." But the city also fostered the deeper meaning of liberalism, one that profoundly influenced America: political and economic freedom. Amsterdam was home not only to religious dissidents and radical thinkers but to the world's first great global corporation.

In this effortlessly erudite account, Russell Shorto traces the idiosyncratic evolution of Amsterdam, showing how such disparate elements as herring anatomy, naked Anabaptists parading through the streets, and an intimate gathering in a sixteenth-century wine-tasting room had a profound effect on Dutch-and world-history. Weaving in his own experiences of his adopted home, Shorto provides an ever-surprising, intellectually engaging story of Amsterdam.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Shorto conjures the anything-goes spirit of contemporary Amsterdam, with its pot-smoking and red-light districts, from the city&'s fascinating past as a major port city. Amsterdam, to Shorto, was not only the first city in Europe to develop the cultural and political foundations of what we now call liberalism—a society focused on the concerns and comforts of individuals,... run by individuals acting together, and tolerant of religion, ethnicity, or other differences—but also an exporter of these beliefs to the rest of Europe and the New World. Shorto composes biographical sketches of these originators (Rembrandt, Spinoza) and exporters (John Locke, the Dutch East India Company) as he guides readers on a narrative tour of Amsterdam&'s intellectual history, its rise from a sleepy site of religious pilgrimage to the center of a trading empire into the present. Shorto&'s examination of Dutch tolerance also focuses on its failures, including an examination of collaboration with Nazi occupiers during WWII, and its current struggle to integrate its immigrant underclass into a more egalitarian multicultural life. Shorto&'s brilliant follow-up to his previous book on Dutch Manhattan (The Island at the Center of the World) is an expertly told history of a city of new, shocking freedoms and the tough-minded people that developed them. Agent: Anne Edelstein, Anne Edelstein Literary Agency LLC. (Nov.)

Review

“This finely spun and illuminating history of Amsterdam explores both a city and an idea. . . . A pleasure to savor on many levels.”
—The Seattle Times
 
“Rich and eventful. . . . [A] book that easily fuses large cultural trends with intimately personal stories.”
The New York Times
 
“An absorbing history of a fascinating place.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
“[A] masterpiece.”
The Daily Beast
 
“Engaging new history. . . . It brims with the sights, smells and sounds of a nearly thousand-year-old bustling, mercantile city. . . . Countless books have been written about Holland’s capital city. . . . [Shorto’s] contribution stands as a sparkling addition to the lot.”
—Associated Press

“Shorto’s brilliant follow-up to his previous book on Dutch Manhattan (
The Island at the Center of the World) is an expertly told history of a city of new, shocking freedoms and the tough-minded people that developed them.”
Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Insightful history. . . . Mr. Shorto masterfully describes how Amsterdam was built in only a few generations by reclaiming water from the sea, literally by hand in the 1600s. And he brings to life how the city attracted—with promises of freedom and tolerance—the most energetic people from all over Europe to create a free civic and economic society that became a model for the American Republic a century later.”
—Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner, 
The Wall Street Journal, Favorite Books of 2013

“Entertaining history.”
The New Yorker

“Delightfully eccentric history. . . . Eye-opening and entertaining, it's popular history of the best sort.”
—Michael Giltz, Favorite Books of the Year,
Huffington Post

“Sometimes it’s clear from the off that a book is special, and that indefinable sense took hold quickly here. . . . An enthralling tale of radicalism and tolerance of strange and otherwise anathema beliefs and ideas.”
—Alex Crowley, Best Books of the Year,
Publishers Weekly

“Masterful reporting, vivid history—the past and present are equally alive in this book.”
—James Gleick, author of
The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood

“Shorto is an excellent storyteller and rootler of strange facts, and
Amsterdam should be issued as standard kit for anyone visiting the city.”
The Guardian (UK)

“Russell Shorto writes engagingly about how a city can engender ideas—order, tolerance, comfort, egalitarianism, entrepreneurship—and in turn be shaped by them.
 Amsterdam argues convincingly that Western liberalism has been greatly influenced by this small, modest, crazy-yet-conventional place.”
—Witold Rybczynski, author of 
How Architecture Works: A Humanist’s Toolkit

“An often brilliant, and always enjoyable, investigation of liberalism’s Dutch roots. Shorto is once again revealed as a passionate and persuasive historian of culture and ideas.”
—Joseph O’Neill, author of
 Netherland

“Russell Shorto loves Amsterdam, I love this book.”
—Job Cohen, former mayor of Amsterdam

“Luminous. . . . An entertaining history full of deftly drawn characters and intoxicating ideas which have made Amsterdam the birthplace of liberalism in its many and shifting incarnations.”
—Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor & Publisher, 
The Nation

“[A] smart, elegant book. . . . A wonderfully readable account of the city that Shorto has come to call home.”
—Charles C. Mann, author of
1491 and 1493

“Vigorous, erudite and eminently readable.”
Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CK8CJVI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (October 22, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 22, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 14469 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 369 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,224 ratings

About the author

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Russell Shorto
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Russell Shorto is the author of eight books of narrative history, including the international bestseller THE ISLAND AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. His new book, coming in March 2025, is TAKING MANHATTAN. He is the director of the New Amsterdam Project at the New-York Historical Society and Senior Scholar at the New Netherland Institute. In 2009 he was awarded a knighthood from the Dutch government for his work in increasing historical understanding between the Netherlands and the United States. (author photo: Izzy Watson)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,224 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's history interesting and well-written. They describe it as a valuable read before visiting Amsterdam, with compelling insights and lively research. Readers praise the writing style as interesting and flowy, with an engaging narrative. The book provides valuable insight into the city's impact on modern culture and politics. Overall, customers find the book entertaining and enjoyable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

154 customers mention "History"148 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find the writing accessible and anchored to human history. The book provides a good context to relate these events to present-day concepts. Readers appreciate the interesting stories and oral histories, as well as the factual information about the city.

"...to an Amsterdam visit, Russell Shorto's book will inform you about Amsterdam's history, people and culture...." Read more

"...He also has the ability to bring that city to life for us. Amsterdam has many odd, unique, and quirky things about it that make it what it is today..." Read more

"Great book about history of Amsterdam !" Read more

"...Although there are some great sections using oral history. By the end of the book, you will want to visit Amsterdam...." Read more

138 customers mention "Readability"138 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They say it's a valuable read about the history of Amsterdam, written with love and tenderness. Many find it enjoyable and entertaining, especially the section on the Glory Revolution.

"...It’s a great book. It will enrich your Amsterdam experience, before, during or after a visit...." Read more

"...I was not disappointed. Recommended for lovers of the written word." Read more

"...Plus there was an excellent section on how the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 in England was actually a true invasion, despite what British..." Read more

"I loved this book. It’s an excellently written book that tells the story of Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most important cities...." Read more

98 customers mention "Insight"95 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's insights. They find the narrative compelling, with lively research and great storytelling. The book is thought-provoking and inspiring, bringing together first-hand tales and thorough research. Readers appreciate the well-researched arguments and facts, while writing in a story-telling style.

"...I knew Amsterdam would be rich in history, rich in substance, thought provoking, well written and well told. I was not disappointed...." Read more

"...Amsterdam has many odd, unique, and quirky things about it that make it what it is today...." Read more

"...of the book continues with the story of Amsterdam, and while it is all fascinating, especially how Amsterdam battled with Lisbon for control of..." Read more

"...Shorto is an interesting writer with a pleasant voice and I would have read this anyway without the hook of "liberalism" to lure me...." Read more

87 customers mention "Writing quality"81 positive6 negative

Customers find the writing engaging and easy to read. They describe the book as an accessible introduction to Amsterdam's history, with a well-crafted story-telling style. The book provides a detailed account of the city's past in an interesting prose style.

"...would be rich in history, rich in substance, thought provoking, well written and well told. I was not disappointed...." Read more

"I loved this book. It’s an excellently written book that tells the story of Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most important cities...." Read more

"...Shorto is an interesting writer with a pleasant voice and I would have read this anyway without the hook of "liberalism" to lure me...." Read more

"...That being said, I'm not a history person. This was a smoother read than an average textbook, so given a choice I'd pick this book again over a..." Read more

25 customers mention "Liberalism"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful on the history of Amsterdam and its impact on western liberal thinking. It provides an overview of contemporary culture and politics, with a sociological perspective. Readers appreciate the historical, religious, and socio-cultural factors that led to the city's unique liberal atmosphere.

"...He’ll give you insights and perspective on the foundations of individual freedom and what made the Enlightenment so important to our lives today." Read more

"...being made, with connections between countries and political factions in one era linked forward and backward in time, and close-ups of priests,..." Read more

"...His discussion of the two sides of liberal was clear and helped me to understand how the Dutch combined them to create a modern society...." Read more

"...religious tolerance, in concepts of individualism, equality, liberal self- government, (Locke lived and wrote in Amsterdam, by the way), and so much..." Read more

17 customers mention "Enjoyment"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging and informative, with an entertaining way of presenting history.

"...But if you are looking for an enjoyable book to read and are able to take the analysis offered as one voice among some wiser ones, you’ll both..." Read more

"...I loved this book! Well written, engaging, and very interesting...." Read more

"...This book was enjoyable and enlightening read." Read more

"Quite a good read for a history book and certainly engaging...." Read more

12 customers mention "Style"9 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-designed and detailed with illustrations. They appreciate the author's easy style and sophisticated writing style. The book is described as a good clean copy in excellent condition for a second-hand purchase.

"...It's not a tourism book, it's a very well written portrait of the city (and to some extent the rest of Netherlands and Europe) four centuries ago...." Read more

"Well designed, the book starts and ends with the presence of Frieda...." Read more

"...A few chapters were very compelling! The rest was dry, dull, and it felt like Shorto wasn't interested in the topics either...." Read more

"...India Co and which led to our so called "Tolerance" was very sophisticated and interesting...." Read more

11 customers mention "Personality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and evocative. They appreciate its personal touch and intimate portraits of individuals. The book explores Amsterdam's unique ideology and how individuality developed with the city's people.

"...Amsterdam has many odd, unique, and quirky things about it that make it what it is today...." Read more

"...One feels enriched, definitely, and grateful for this personalized yet detailed description of a city, its buildings and those who lived there over..." Read more

"...the years quickly illuminating each age with an intimate portrait of a few individuals ...." Read more

"...earliest farmers and fishermen through to the modern era, we get a personalized and yet nicely organized history of the city and the surrounding area..." Read more

Book is upside down.
3 out of 5 stars
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The copy I received is printed upside down. No....I’m not joking. It was printed/assembled upside down.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2014
    During a recent visit to Amsterdam, I got Russell Shorto’s Amsterdam on my kindle. It’s a great book. It will enrich your Amsterdam experience, before, during or after a visit. Having read his Descartes’ Bones, I knew Amsterdam would be rich in history, rich in substance, thought provoking, well written and well told. I was not disappointed.

    To add depth and texture to an Amsterdam visit, Russell Shorto's book will inform you about Amsterdam's history, people and culture. It includes some wonderful insights about The Rijksmuseum and its collection. If you are interested in how the canals and houses were built, good stories about people you know that lived in these houses, and how Amsterdam’s place in the world came to be, then get and read this wonderful book.

    There are lots of little nuances that will strike you as you read this book. As just one tiny example, now I know the source of The Rolling Stones title for their late 60’s album, Beggars Banquet. Russell Shorto opens his book with a story about riding his bicycle. He got that so right. People riding their bicycles in Amsterdam is the first lasting impression you experience there. After all, we knew about the canals, right?

    If a trip to Amsterdam is not on the horizon for you at the moment, then read this book because Russell Shorto will take you there and beyond, He will open your eyes to the rich deep history and people of Amsterdam. He’ll give you insights and perspective on the foundations of individual freedom and what made the Enlightenment so important to our lives today.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020
    Mr. Shorto knows his city. He also has the ability to bring that city to life for us. Amsterdam has many odd, unique, and quirky things about it that make it what it is today. Shorto has dug into the substrata of the town to find just those interesting things that define the metropolis. He has lots of little and not so little details about the history of the place that makes it come to life for us. We imagine that we have an understanding of the soul of the city, that we can appreciate her, and why she is as she is today.
    I read this book on the basis of how much I enjoyed and benefited from his book on New York. I was not disappointed.
    Recommended for lovers of the written word.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2024
    Great book about history of Amsterdam !
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2013
    Having fallen in love with Russel Shorto's 'The Island at the Center of the World', and greatly enjoying his articles in the NYT, I was eagerly anticipating this book. And I was not disappointed.

    In this relatively short history, Shorto weaves his own personal experiences of Amsterdam with the history of the city. In particular, as he shows how Liberalism (note the capital L here: this is Liberalism in the classic sense - personal freedom, economic freedom, individual freedoms and individual rights, etc - not in the American political spectrum sense) defined the city he convincingly relays how the city's unique geography allowed Liberalism to grow and thrive. In particular, the concept of 'gedogen' - hard to translate, but sort of like toleration of what is illegal by not enforcing laws against something - seems to have defined the city of Amsterdam from early on.

    Beginning with the miracle of the wafer, Amsterdam grew from such humble beginning. Yes, around a wafer. But hey, it was a different century and rather than tourists flocking to museums, they instead flocked to religious items. So why not a wafer? Shorto then shows how fishing and shipping enriched the city before getting to the best part of the book - the Golden Age of Amsterdam of the 17th century. Probably the highlight of the book for me because this was the age that would then go on to influence New Amsterdam, and through New Amsterdam the whole of the US. Plus there was an excellent section on how the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 in England was actually a true invasion, despite what British historians may have led you to believe since.

    The rest of the book continues with the story of Amsterdam, and while it is all fascinating, especially how Amsterdam battled with Lisbon for control of global trade, it's not as interesting to me as the 17th century. Although there are some great sections using oral history. By the end of the book, you will want to visit Amsterdam. And when a history book about a city makes you want to visit it, that counts as a success in my eyes.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2023
    I loved this book. It’s an excellently written book that tells the story of Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most important cities. While the author covers Dutch economics, colonialism, and Amsterdam he also tell a story of Dutch people, how they worked together as as a community to build the early dams and handle the German invasion during WWII. I highly recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014
    This is a perfectly workman-like, popular history of the city of Amsterdam. Since I know little about it, I learned a great many interesting facts about the city, about famous people who have lived there and about the social and historical conditions prevailing at various times during its history.

    Mr. Shorto uses the theme “liberalism” as the prism through which he examines this history. I did not find it a compelling unifier. I thought he was stretching the definition to allow himself to tell the history. I would have preferred it if he had just recounted the city’s story.

    It seems to me that he wished to differentiate this volume from the many others written about European history in general and Amsterdam/The Netherlands in particular. I don’t think it was necessary for him to do so.

    Shorto is an interesting writer with a pleasant voice and I would have read this anyway without the hook of "liberalism" to lure me. Perhaps Shorto felt that Amsteredam’s reputation as “the world’s most liberal city” would attract those interested in lurid accounts. That is not necessary. As I said in the beginning, this is a perfectly fine short history and is worth reading if you are interested in European history as I am.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Pedro López
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 28, 2023
    This book is about the History of Amsterdam the city, which is very interesting as the city is very unique in many ways, and as the author explains, it has been very influential to the history and culture of the rest of the world from the sixteenth century onwards, I found it so entertaining I had to put aside other books I was reading.
    It’s not a textbook type of history book, the author weaves in some of his own experiences living in the city, and of people he met while researching, which are also interesting.
    This book can be a good reference before visiting the city or a good way to understand the city more after visiting it.
    I bough this book in kindle format in the Little Brown Book group edition, I liked it so much I gave a paperback copy as a present but in the Vintage edition, which I found out, included a good deal of illustrations and photographs that weren’t on the Little Brown kindle edition, it was ok, it’s still a good read with no illustrations, I was always using the maps app to check locations, it was also cheaper, I don’t know if the Vintage kindle edition includes the illustrations.
  • Sanjukta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written, interesting and as a bonus very informative
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 21, 2023
    I loved loved loved this book. It's a must read for any expat living in the Netherlands. I understood a lot about the why and how of the Dutch culture through this book and it's just so interesting to read. I might have paused a few times after reading a line to soak it in or re-read para over and over again :)
  • Patrick Sullivan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amsterdam And The Dutch Reformation
    Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2017
    This book went way beyond, any and all expectations. The emerging city throws off the yoke, of a foreign despot and the evil Catholic Church. Amsterdam becomes a model libertarian or classic liberal city. The civic model is based on; the rule of law, low flat taxes, open immigration, private property rights, freedom of religion, self-government, and a strong emphasis on individual rights. In other words, Amsterdam exercised a policy of laissez-faire capitalism. This combination allows the city to boom economically. A large middle class emerges in Amsterdam, along with many wealthy business owners. Shorto outlines the story of Amsterdam`s rise to greatness.

    Shorto has a talent for turning history, into an exciting read. The first few pages started off slowly. But if you stick with it, the reader will be rewarded. On the slightly negative side. Shorto downplays the problems of the current welfare democratic system, that is being practiced in Amsterdam. Today`s liberalism/socialism is drastically different, from the original classic liberal model.

    This book is highly recommended. I hope one day, to make a return visit to The Netherlands. The Dutch people and touring the city of Amsterdam is an incredible experience.
  • BB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2019
    I bought this (Kindle version) to take with me on a trip to Amsterdam - my first visit. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's very well written and quite quirky (in a good way). I wish I'd read it before I went as I could have added lots of things to my list of things to look out for on my trip. Other than learning about 'poulders' at school 50 years ago, I am ashamed to say I knew nothing about Amsterdam. The author of this book makes the history come alive, a bit of a cliche I know but it is so outstandingly well written with numerous amazing facts about the city, how it was built and who built it and why. I don't know if the author has written anything else but if not he should! The level of detail is extraordinary and it's so readable. I haven't quite finished it yet but as soon as I have I'm going to read it again! And book my next trip! Well done that man! Since writing the above I've discovered the author has indeed written several other books. I've just bought three of them to read on my trusty Kindle! (I prefer proper books to Kindle books but my Kindle is useful for reading in bed last thing at night and on the train etc.) I want to read this book again so I will probably buy the paperback too.
  • セルジオ・メンデルスゾーン
    4.0 out of 5 stars アムステルダムが見える
    Reviewed in Japan on September 4, 2020
    アムステルダムの歴史が綴られる。分かりやすく、興味が惹かれる。旅行の前に一読をお勧めする。

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