THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER's Books & More Shop: Books on Poverty: The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City

Home

Books in General

Social Work Books

Office Products

Location: Home :: Books on Poverty :: The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City

Need a quick gift? Try Amazon gift certificates.

Don't Forget To Visit:

The New Social Worker Online

SocialWorkJobBank

Online Continuing Education for Social Workers

Amazon.com Widgets

The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City
enlarge	Author: Jennifer Toth Publisher: Chicago Review Press Category: Book List Price: ~~$16.95~~ Buy Used: $5.50 You Save: $11.45 (68%) New (43) Used (42) from $5.50 Media: Paperback Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 280 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9 Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 ISBN: 155652241X Dewey Decimal Number: 305.569 EAN: 9781556522413 ASIN: 155652241X Publication Date: October 1, 1995 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Editorial Reviews: Amazon.com Review Alligators breeding in the sewers of New York City is an urban legend; thousands of people living in the tunnels beneath New York is not. Ms. Toth has written a compelling, compassionate and extraordinary documentary about the "Mole People." Product Description divThis book is about the thousands of people who live in the subway, railroad, and sewage tunnels of New York City.br/div

Customer Reviews: Read 95 more reviews... full of inaccuracies October 20, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful While the concept is intriguing, the inaccuracies in the book are so distracting I've decided it's a piece of junk. I'm not a train guru and I don't know everything about the rail system in NYC, but what she's reporting in the book just isn't true (the multiple levels of Grand Central that don't exist, the tunnels in stations that don't exist, the vastness of the rail system). It was incredibly frustrating to read knowing that some of these places aren't even on the rail map, and all she needed to do was pick one up to find that out. It's irresponsible writing, pure and simple. Trying hard to finish it October 15, 2008 I don't know or really care how much of this book is accurate. The subject matter has great potential as fiction or non-fiction but I just can't get past the writing style. I'm about half-finished and should have gotten into the author's "flow" by now. Instead, I'm still finding her over-use of adjectives irritating and amateurish. It feels like I'm reading something my daughter wrote as a high school English essay. As far as the stories go, nothing's really grabbed me yet. They're somewhat interesting but not fascinating by any stretch. I'll struggle through the rest of the book and hope it improves...br / "Mole People don't exist beneath the surface of NYC, but people do." October 8, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful Written back in 1993, 'The Mole People' might be a little dated, but I'm certain that the underground communities still not only exist but flourish beneath NYC and other cities. Jennifer Toth has written of the colorful background of the "under-city" and the colorful people who live there. Her study is literally peppered with stories straight from the mouths of those who live below, telling in their own way of their fears, their lives, their creed, their reasons, and most of all their humanity.br /br /The tunnels are everywhere: Port Authority Station, Grand Central Station, Penn Station, Amtrak tunnels along the Hudson River in upper Manhattan, Amtrak tunnel under Hell's Kitchen along the West Side, under City Hall, below the theater district on Broadway, Lafayette Street Station, the Bowery tunnels, the Lexington Line, and more. Toth went into all of them, studying the societies as far down as seven levels underground.br /br /She found loners, families, communities (like Bernard Issac's under Riverside Park), some complete with appointed "mayors". There's the "Condos", a natural underground cavern where two hundred people live. There's an old waiting room, complete with crystal chandelier and grand piano. A ninety-two foot merchant sailing ship was found under Front Street, as part of the landfill. Toth uncovers many mysteries in the deep.br /br /Ranging from holes littered with needles and feces to vast chambers with stolen electricity, wallpaper, carpet, TV's and VCR's, kitchen utensils and food supplies, the "mole people" are a diverse people. Many suffer from mental illness and drug abuse, others range from illegal aliens to those who have Master's Degrees from "upstairs". All seem dispossessed in one way or another, whatever the reason for their decent into the tunnels.br /br /Toth talks about the organizations to assist the tunnel people, like ADAPT and HELP, while Bernard talks about the same organizations as having their own, separate, job-saving, money-making agendas that go against what the tunnel people want or need.br /br /The book contains black-and-white photos (though not enough), footnotes, bibliography, and an index. While Toth's study is well done and documented, I liked the fact that she let the people speak for themselves, dedicating a great portion of the book to their own words. This study is interesting, especially if you are fascinated by subcultures or just like "underground stories". I liked the book and recommend it. Enjoy! br / The Mole People - Great Book! September 16, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful The Mole People was recommended to me while visiting NYC. I really enjoyed it and thought it was very well written. It is pretty amazing to learn what really is below the subways of New York. On my next visit I definitely will look more carefully when taking the subways to see if I can see any of these tunnels and passageways. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves NYC or enjoys reading about how some people really do exist underground. stays with you July 31, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful I just came across this title in my Amazon recommendations. I read it about 15 years ago and I STILL think about it and recommend it. Absolutely fascinating. I would love to see a follow up to this story.

Copyright 2007 White Hat Communications.
Disclaimer: The products referenced on this site are manufactured and sold by parties other than The New Social Worker/White Hat Communications. We make no representations regarding either the products or any information vendors offer about their products.

Visit our poster store for unique social issues posters.

Amazon.com Widgets