Heart of the City: Nine Stories of Love and Serendipity on the Streets of New York

something about the feel of New York City. The multitudes of people and the stories that happen every day that are anonymous.

Anonymity—the ability to be simultaneously surrounded by and withdrawn from other people—was one of the subway’s chief pleasures.

each individual adding by his mere presence to the pleasure of all others, all helping to the greater happiness of each. You may thus often see vast numbers of persons brought closely together, poor and rich, young and old, Jew and Gentile.”

“with an evident glee in the prospect of coming together, all classes largely represented, with a common purpose, not at all intellectual, competitive with none, disposing to jealousy and spiritual or intellectual pride toward none,

people were more likely to be attracted to people they met during unusual or “boundary breaking” experiences—“those involving power, mystery, isolation, or strong emotions.”

how do the physical places in which we live, work, and play shape us?