Publisher's Synopsis
The Deal of the Century is a gripping, deeply researched exploration into one of the most complex and consequential real estate transactions in modern history. At the center of it all is Larry Silverstein a determined, controversial developer who signed a $3.2 billion lease for the World Trade Center just weeks before the tragic events of September 11, 2001.Through a compelling blend of biography, business insight, and historical narrative, this book follows Silverstein's rise from a Brooklyn upbringing to the forefront of Manhattan's high-stakes real estate world. It examines how a single deal thrust him into a whirlwind of lawsuits, insurance battles, political infighting and public scrutiny all while carrying the emotional weight of a national tragedy.
Structured in ten detailed chapters, the book unpacks the untold stories behind the lease, the destruction of the Twin Towers, the bitter legal fights over insurance payouts and the years-long struggle to rebuild Ground Zero. Along the way, it poses difficult questions: Can tragedy be monetized? Where is the line between visionary leadership and opportunism? And who gets to control sacred public space in a capitalist society?
With clarity, nuance, and a strong ethical lens, The Deal of the Century reveals how business, memory and morality collided on the most emotionally charged real estate project in America. Perfect for readers of investigative nonfiction, urban history and political drama, this is the definitive account of Larry Silverstein's gamble and the city it helped redefine.
