"A 'City of Nets' is what Mr. Friedrich calls Hollywood in the title of his new social history. . . . Friedrich's intelligent prose makes for fascinating reading." -- New York Times Book Review

"As rich and colorful a story as can be imagined and Friedrich has more than done it justice . . . in a narrative that is often funny and remarkably even-handed--a must for movie buffs and a rewarding read for everyone else." -- Publishers Weekly

"With its tough humor, profound cynicism, and unerring nose for corruption and hypocrisy, City of Nets offers a distinctly Brechtian vision of Hollywood. . . . By mixing enjoyable gossip about the stars' personal lives and behind-the-scenes maneuverings with a shrewd look at the film world's often unsavory industrial underpinnings, Friedrich gives us a much clearer understanding of Hollywood's reciprocal relationship with American reality." -- Village Voice