Morand visited New York four times between 1925 and 1929 and shares his experiences from those trips, with a non-native reader in mind.

He is impressed by the City Hall and the buildings around Washington Square, which he regards as genuinely American and not false imitations of historical styles.

He makes recurring references to the contemporary saying that "the Jews own New York, the Irish run it, and the Negroes enjoy it".

Both the native and the passenger on an incoming liner may find things in his book which will bring the life of the city nearer and render it more understandable.

In any case, M. Morand's interest in America is liable to repay both himself and the casual reader of his deceptively facile but extremely clever book.