When the City Stopped, Robert W. Snyder
When the City Stopped, Robert W. Snyder
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

When the City Stopped
Stories from New York's Essential Workers

Author: Robert W. Snyder

Narrator: Joel Richards, Kelli Tager

Unabridged: 8 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/01/2025


Synopsis

In When the City Stopped, Robert Snyder tells the story of COVID-19 in the words of ordinary New Yorkers, illuminating the fear and uncertainty of life in the early weeks and months, as well as the solidarity that sustained the city. New Yorkers were "alone together," separated by the protective measures of social distancing and the fundamental inequalities of life and work in New York City. Through their personal accounts, we see that while many worked from home, others knowingly exposed themselves to the dangers of the pandemic as they drove buses, ran subways, answered 911 calls, tended to the sick, and made and delivered meals.

Snyder builds bridges of knowledge and empathy between those who bore dangerous burdens and those who lived in relative safety. The story is told through the words of health care workers, grocery clerks, transit workers, and community activists who recount their experiences in poems, first-person narratives, and interviews. When the City Stopped preserves for future generations what it was like to be in New York when it was at the center of the pandemic.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Karen on May 12, 2025

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Started off good, but then started to feel dated, even though this was just 5 years ago. Also, I know this is a NYC book, but much of it seemed like it was from another world. Anyway, parts were good, other stories not so much.......more

Goodreads review by Adrian on January 09, 2025

I was given a copy of When the City Stopped, Written and edited by Robert W. Synder from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Gee, I feel bad about giving this book two stars, but I will explain my reasoning and hopefully, it will make more sense. As we sink into 2025, the pandemic is becomin......more

Goodreads review by Faithe on March 03, 2025

When the City Stopped: stories from New York's Essential Workers by Robert W. Snyder is a wonderful time capsule of New York in the Covid Pandemic. Told on first-person narratives, poetry and first person history told through the words of health care workers, grocery clerks, transit workers, and com......more

Goodreads review by Liz on March 11, 2025

I am grateful to have received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is an intense and insightful collection of reflections. I had to take my time reading it due to the depth and heartache of the stories and shared experiences. Nonetheless, it is deeply valu......more

Goodreads review by Jill on May 07, 2025

This was a bit of a disappointment. There wasn't enough that was insightful or particularly well written to recommend this book. It's mostly first person accounts, many taken from oral histories, and the quality of the writing is extremely inconsistent, with some of the pieces very poorly written.......more