Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center

Great Fortune chronicles the creation of Rockefeller Center, one of New York City's most significant architectural developments. The book follows the complex journey from initial concept through construction, focusing on John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s central role in bringing this massive project to life during the Great Depression. The narrative traces the interconnected stories of key figures involved in the project - financiers, architects, artists, politicians, and business leaders. Okrent presents the challenges and conflicts that emerged during the development, from financial pressures to artistic disagreements to political complications. The text documents how Rockefeller Center transformed from a speculative real estate venture into an enduring symbol of urban innovation. The account covers both the business mechanics and the cultural impact of this landmark development. Through the lens of this single project, the book reveals broader themes about American capitalism, urban development, and the intersection of commerce and culture in early twentieth-century New York.

Readers value the detailed research and engaging narrative style that brings the complex construction story to life. Many note how Okrent balances technical architectural details with human stories about the workers, planners, and financiers. Several reviews mention learning surprising facts about how the project survived the Depression. Critics say the book gets bogged down in granular details about leasing arrangements and financial dealings. Some readers found the large cast of characters hard to follow and wanted more focus on the actual construction process. "The financial dealings could have been condensed without losing the story," wrote one Amazon reviewer. Another praised "the vivid descriptions of New York's social dynamics in the 1930s." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (391 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (43 ratings) The book won the 2004 Phi Beta Kappa Ralph Waldo Emerson Award and was a New York Times Notable Book.

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🔹 Okrent was the first-ever public editor of The New York Times, serving as the paper's internal critic and readers' representative from 2003 to 2005. 🔹 The construction of Rockefeller Center created approximately 75,000 jobs during the Great Depression, when unemployment in New York City had reached nearly 25%. 🔹 The original plans for the site called for a new Metropolitan Opera House, but the 1929 stock market crash forced a complete reimagining of the project. 🔹 Radio City Music Hall, part of Rockefeller Center, was so named because its first tenant was RCA (Radio Corporation of America), and it opened its doors in December 1932. 🔹 The book earned the 2004 Brendan Gill Award from the Municipal Art Society of New York for its contribution to understanding New York City's architectural heritage.