“Mr. Most weaves together the egos, political hurdles and other daunting challenges…in a sweeping narrative of late-19th-century intrigue.” —The New York Times

“Doug Most's meticulously researched history reveals that getting the subways built was more a collaborative than a competitive effort...Who then won the race? That would be giving away the climax of an exciting book.” —The Economist

“Before last week's back-to-back snowstorms, there was the great blizzard of 1888. With New York City at a halt, explains journalist Most, the influential Whitney brothers of NYC and Boston dreamed of a city subway system to beat bad weather. But each brother wanted his own city to be the first to finish its subway: And so the great Boston-New York subway race was on. Makes today's Yankees-Red Sox rivalry seem tame by comparison.” —The New York Post

“At first glance, a history of American public transit might sound like something you'd be forced to read in an engineering class. But the Boston Globe's Doug Most has come at the potentially dry subject from a unique and engaging angle: The story of two brothers -- one in New York City and one in Boston -- who each dreamed of creating America's first subway system in their respective cities. Most's narrative chronicles tackles the enormous undertaking at every level, from the high-powered political figures at the top to the "sandhogs" who created the tunnels, offering an intriguing top-down look at American transit.” —The Week, "18 Books to Read in 2014"

“It is a story of rapscallions and risk takers, engineers and entrepreneurs, dreamers, darers, and doers — and it is thoroughly researched and splendidly narrated by Doug Most.” —Boston Globe

“Our subways are the vital lifelines of our greatest cities. They are also symbols of our indebtedness to earlier generations who through innovation and perseverance took us from horse-powered transportation to subterranean rail. Doug Most's The Race Underground is a fascinating account of how New York and Boston tunneled their way into the future. This book proves again that American history is a treasure trove of great stories, this one filled with drama, sacrifice, loss and unimaginable success.” —Ken Burns, filmmaker, creator of the PBS series The Civil War and many others

“A terrific book that makes us take a second look at our past and makes us wonder about possibilities for the future. This a love poem to the power of the human imagination.” —Leigh Montville, New York Times bestselling author of Ted Williams

“Combine the propulsive energy of Devil In the White City with the meticulous detail of The Great Bridge and you get The Race Underground. Most's addictive tour de force infuses a story that changed the course of American history with all the drama and excitement of a great thriller.” —Seth Mnookin, award-winning author of The Panic Virus: The True Story Behind the Vaccine-Autism Controversy and the bestseller Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts and Nerve Took a Team to the Top

“Imagine my disappointment when my college professor assigned Notes From the Underground and it turned out to be a mere existential novella. Finally, we get the book I wanted – The Race Underground--a history of Boston, New York and the building of America's First Subway. Give me Doug Most over Dostoyevsky anytime.” —Dan Shaughnessy, author of Francona, The Red Sox Years

“The Race Underground is a great American tale, filled with moments of surprising drama and unforgettable characters fighting against impossible odds. Doug Most hasn't just written a book for history buffs and train lovers; he's written something wonderful for us all.” —Keith O'Brien, author of Outside Shot

“An almost flawlessly conducted tour back to a time when major American cities dreamed big.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“A remarkably well-told story filled with villains, heroes, and events of the Gilded Age...While many books have been written about New York City's subway, few have documented Boston's herculean accomplishment in beating New York. Most deserves credit for setting the historical record straight. This felicitous tale of American ingenuity and perseverance serves as a useful reminder today of our past commitment to improving our infrastructures as we now face the challenge of stopping their deterioration.” —Library Journal

“[Most] delivers a fun and enjoyable read about a vital, transformative period.” —Publishers Weekly

“The Race Underground tells the story of how we got there, and it's an enlightening—and surprisingly exciting--ride.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review)