How Long to Read Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities

How Long Does it Take to Read Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities?

It takes the average reader 3 hours and 31 minutes to read Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities by John King

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

A two-time Pulitzer finalist explores the story of American urban design through San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building. Conceived in the Gilded Age, the Ferry Building opened in 1898 as San Francisco’s portal to the world—the terminus of the transcontinental railway and a showcase of civic ambition. In silent films and World’s Fair postcards, nothing said “San Francisco” more than its soaring clocktower. But as acclaimed architectural critic John King recounts in Portal, the rise of the automobile and double-deck freeways severed the city from its beloved structure and its waterfront—a connection that required generations to restore. King’s narrative spans the rise and fall and rebirth of the Ferry Building. Rich with feats of engineering and civic imagination, his story introduces colorful figures who fought to preserve the Ferry Building’s character (and the city’s soul)—from architect Arthur Page Brown and legendary columnist Herb Caen to poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Senator Dianne Feinstein. In King’s hands, the saga of the Ferry Building is a microcosm of a larger evolution along the waterfronts of cities everywhere. Portal traces the damage inflicted on historic neighborhoods and working dockyards by cars, highways, and top-down planning and “urban renewal.” But when an earthquake destroyed the Embarcadero Freeway, city residents seized the chance to reclaim their connection to the bay. Transporting readers across 125 years of history, this tour de force explores the tensions impacting urban infrastructure and public spaces, among them tourism, deindustrialization, development, and globalization. Portal culminates with a rich portrait of San Francisco’s vibrant esplanade today, visited by millions, even as sea level rise and earthquakes threaten a landmark that remains as vital as ever. A book for city lovers and visitors, architecture fans and pedestrians, Portal is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of San Francisco and the future of American cities.

How long is Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities?

Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities by John King is 211 pages long, and a total of 52,961 words.

This makes it 71% the length of the average book. It also has 65% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 4 hours and 49 minutes to read Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities aloud.

What Reading Level is Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities?

Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities?

Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities by John King is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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