This book would be good for a student rather than myself. I personally was interested in the Met going into this book and looking forward to maybe understanding the development of the great Museum; however, there’s a wealth of information in this book that seemed to weigh it down. It was very fact heavy and read as such. Overall, not for me.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the arc!

The Met: A History of a Museum and Its People, by Jonathan Conlin, is an informative history that presents not simply a history of this iconic museum but also a nice overview of the positives and negatives of encyclopedic museums as a whole.

Like many other people who have visited the Met multiple times over the years, I have both a fascination with the objects and the history within the walls as well as problematic concerns about equity and fairness, both in the acquisition of the artifacts and in the people for whom the museum has de facto been intended for. This volume does not shy away from presenting multiple perspectives, which often means highlighting some less-than-ideal moments. While making a case for what museums like this can contribute to society, Conlin does so while acknowledging where changes still need to be made.

This is a history, not an art appreciation or art history book, so don't expect a picture book. The photographs here are meant to contribute to the telling of the history, not make the reader ponder the art. Like many books I read, I made use of the internet to take side trips, looking up movements and people mentioned in the book. If you want something more like a pop history book, you can do the same to look at pretty pictures. By all means, if that is what is important to you, do so. But that isn't what this history book is about, so don't hold it against the book for not being what it never set out to be.

Many people who have visited the Met will find the history interesting, though I suspect the many names and the usual internal politics (like any organization) may turn some people off. If you enjoy reading histories of organizations, this is a very readable volume that will make you see the museum differently the next time you visit. Those who study cultural and intellectual history will likely find plenty of overlap with other studies they have read.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

This book was a very in depth look at the MET and the various exhibits featured over the years. More than an exploration of the exhibits though, it’s a history of the museum itself. It details behind the scenes process of each room and wing and the transformations over the years. It was very interesting to read about the inner workings of that prestigious institution.

This is a fascinating and very information-dense look into The Met's storied history - we get to learn about all of the people through all of the decades of the Met's existence that shaped it into the institution it is today. For the Met's inception, the sheer number of rich people who decided to get together for art was incredible, but equally intriguing was the amount of pettiness that went along with it. I appreciated the author contrasting the idea of these oligarchs with the idea of them being generous benefactors. Keeping that balance is interesting and there were several Met contributors (most of them) who came by their money or their family’s money in despicable ways.

I learned so much through this book, but it is best served as a reference text rather than trying to read it all in one fell swoop. The information is broken up into different eras of the museum that often overlap, and the recent history is just as detailed as the past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the advanced copy.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC is one of my favorite museums I’ve been to, so having the opportunity to read the history of the Met was neat. I thought it was interesting to learn how the Met acquired some pieces of art, like the different statues and paintings. Learning the more notable figures who made the Met what it was was fascinating as well - there were a handful of people who did questionable things in order to get what they wanted. It was also nice to learn how the Met Gala started - I usually check out the new fashion exhibition after the Gala if I’m around New York that time, and it is always fun to see the different outfits people are wearing during the Gala. Overall, this book might be a great gift to the museum lover in your life, if you aren’t one yourself.

A thorough history of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jonathan Conlin's "The Met" is impeccably researched and interesting. It spans the decades of the museum's creation, existence, and musings on its future. It is quite information dense, so is best used as a research reference or read in increments to best absorb the culture and information.

A beautiful retrospective of the Met. This book is best read in short spurts when you have a moment, rather than cover to cover in a sitting. I have fond memories of taking an art history course and learning about how art influences and reflects history, and reading this brought back many of those memories and feelings I associate with art.

I recently had the pleasure of reading The Met, and it was an enriching and informative experience. The author’s approach to the subject matter is both insightful and accessible, making complex ideas easy to understand without oversimplifying them. I found myself engaged from the very first chapter, eager to learn more and see how the concepts would unfold.

One of the aspects I appreciated most about this book was the depth of research and the clarity with which the information was presented. The author has done an excellent job of breaking down the key points and supporting them with real-world examples and data, which added a great deal of credibility to the arguments made. The book also offers practical takeaways that I found valuable and applicable to my own life.

In addition to the well-organized content, the themes explored in The Met were thought-provoking and have given me a new perspective on the topic. The book encouraged me to reflect on my own views and practices, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to expand my understanding.

I will certainly be recommending The Met to my friends, colleagues, and anyone interested. It’s a book that I believe will resonate with many readers, whether they are new to the topic or have a background in it. The insights offered are not only educational but also relevant to today’s world, making it a timely and important read.

I look forward to discussing this book with others and seeing the impact it has on them. It’s a book I’ll be returning to for reference and reflection, and I’m excited to explore more of the author’s work in the future.

Disappointing. While the history of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is quite interesting, it was not presented in a manner that held my attention. At times, it was dull and dry; at times, it was gossipy and judgy. And what really aggravated me was that most, if not all, images were in black and white!!! What good is that in a book about one of the most well-known museums on the East Coast, if not throughout the entire United States?! I got fed up and stopped reading, and just skimmed the second half of the book.
One truly has to be a diehard fan of the Met to read this and enjoy it. Otherwise, bypass this.

Thanks to NetGalley & Columbia University Press for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having grown up outside the city and thus have had the ability to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art some frequently, I don’t know whether to consider myself a bit of a biased reader, or as prime a member of the potential target audience for “The Met” as one could possibly be. Either way, I really enjoyed this! It was wonderful to get to know the institution that I’ve loved and been fascinated by since I was a small child on such a deeply extensive and in-depth level.

Sadly, I've never been to the Met but it's on my list of museums to visit. I really enjoyed reading it's history and how it became the Met we all know now

This was such a fascinating and rich read! The Met museum has always been one of my favorite places to lose myself in and now I don’t know how I will go back without spending days revisiting what I read about in Jonathan Conlan’s very well written, “The Met”. I highly encourage seasoned museum goers and newcomers to read this prior to or during your trip!

This is a detailed history of The Met, and as a book about the history of the museum, it is certainly well-researched and informative. 5/5 for that.
I found some chapters more engaging than the others, as a reader, hence the 4 stars. Though, for anyone who wishes to learn everything about the past of The Met, this is a highly valuable and well-written book.
What stood out for me was the chapter about The Modernists, the discussion of the inequalities and whom the museum has to rely on. I enjoyed the writer's unique research and analyses more than the purely historical facts about The Met.

After just coming back from my trip to New York and absolutely loving the Met I couldn´t not read this beautiful book.
It´s so interesting to me as an architect, art lover, and tourist to read more about the history of this museum.
After having spent there two full days, rushing around and trying to see everything, and after having read this book, it´s fair to say that the museum is just an understatement.
The Met is a city, an emblem of culture and art, somewhere you can immerse yourself, where you can watch the past but also glimpse the future. It´s an experience.