Russell Shorto

Delighted to be here today to hear @RussellShorto and other scholars on Amsterdam, New Amsterdam, tolerance and, in Russel's words, its fragility.

@CharlesCMann Beautiful, clean, incisive piece. CCM makes it look easy, but it's hard work to comprehend and communicate something so vast.

Here's my 1st piece of overt political propaganda--the first of a series about the systems that undergird our daily lives, which are always one generation of inattention away from catastrophe. Message: they're important! Paywall is lifted, please pass on. bit.ly/4gBYpuC

If you're in NYC and free on Saturday, join us for what will surely be a fascinating collection of insights on our history of tolerance and intolerance. nyhistory.org/programs/new-y…

What are the roots of tolerance in America? Join us on Nov 15 as we commemorate the 400th anniversary of New Amsterdam and the 750th anniversary of Amsterdam with a special day-long symposium. With music! And dancing! And a fashion show! nyhistory.org/programs/new-y…

The crowd at the #NoKings protest in Orlando is growing so large that the police just closed off the street!!!

#NoKingsDayOct18th #Orlando

I'll be in Philadelphia tomorrow... libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/event…

I have followed up our recent stay in Amsterdam with @RussellShorto’s fascinating history of the city. He explores how the unique geography and history of Amsterdam—particularly its fight to reclaim land from the sea—fostered a democratic, cooperative ethos that became the bedrock of the city’s political and economic freedom. Amsterdam’s liberalism has encompassed social, political, and economic freedom, and also religious toleration unknown in the rest of Europe during religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries.

If you're in Philadelphia, come see me in conversation with Molly Beer on Sept 4! freelibraryfoundation.org/events/russell…

I'll be live/virtual at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation on Aug 26. Tune in! villagepreservation.org/event/taking-m…

📚 No. 28 on the year: @RussellShorto’s “The Island at the Center of the World,” a recommendation from a tour guide in Amsterdam. There is so much of the city’s Dutch origins that lives on today throughout the country. An absolutely fascinating read.

Taking Manhattan is a Best Summer Read by the editors of the NYT Book Review. nytimes.com/2025/07/14/ins…

Podcast with Russell Shorto about his book Taking Manhattan. Explains New York's colonial history, including pragmatic deals, personal rivalries, & ideological divides, that led to the New Amsterdam's peaceful takeover in 1664. @HistoryExtra @RussellShorto thepodcastbrowser.com/how-the-englis…

A huge chunk of City & State is devoted to "Taking Manhattan" and New Amsterdam! cityandstateny.com/latest-issue/?…

City & State did a q&a with me about Taking Manhattan, and ran an excerpt! lnkd.in/etvrmQtN

Our NEW episode is with @RussellShorto and his book “Taking Manhattan” @wwnorton He shows how the “taking” of Manhattan by the English from the Dutch in the mid 1600s set the stage for the good and not-so-good of American history Listen! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axe…

The #Dutch had known the city as #NewAmsterdam for the past thirty-eight years. No one had instructed #RichardNichols on what to call it, so he decided himself to call it "the Towne of Manhattans." @RussellShorto @WWNorton amzn.to/3Hu371L #ad #StevosNovelIdeas #NewYork

The latest episode of A Book with Legs is here! In this episode, @Cole_Smead speaks with author and historian @RussellShorto about his latest book, "Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events that Created New York and Shaped America,” discussing the birth of New York City, originally a Dutch-controlled settlement called New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, until English takeover. Their conversation explores this pivotal transfer of power and the key figures involved, explaining how it shaped the future of New York, its unique culture, and the American identity. Listen here: hubs.ly/Q03n6ZL30 Sign up to be notified about new episodes: hubs.ly/Q03n6YyN0 #PlayTheLongGame #ABookwithLegs #Investing #NYC @wwnorton

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