The Cost of Good Intentions

By Charles R. Morris,

Book cover of The Cost of Good Intentions: New York City and the Liberal Experiment

Book description

This book is about public policy making in New York during the zenith of the great liberal experiment, from 1960, Mayor Robert Wagner's third term, through John V. Lindsay, Abraham Beame, and, finally, to Edward Koch and the inevitable return of fiscal conservatism.

The bigger they come the harder they…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Cost of Good Intentions as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Like many New Yorkers, I am fascinated by the history of the city.

The Cost of Good Intentions details the run-up to a crucial turning point for the city: the fiscal crisis of 1975.

Written by a high-ranking city official after the fact, the book is an insightful analysis of how local government, particularly under Mayor John Lindsay, attempted to respond to a range of significant challenges, including the civil right movement, rising crime, and changing economic conditions. 

Despite the best of intentions, the administration’s reach ended up exceeding its grasp, laying the groundwork not only for the fiscal crisis…

Want books like The Cost of Good Intentions?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 67 books like The Cost of Good Intentions.

Browse books like The Cost of Good Intentions

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in New York City, presidential biography, and New York State?

New York City 1,086 books
New York State 525 books