"Empire" by Mitch Pacelle is the Biography of the Empire State Building ! With some good historical background, the book focuses on the building, the people whose lives are involved with it and the unusual 114-year master lease given to the Helmsely organization by Prudential in 1961.The "cast of characters" includes an unbelievably wealthy Japanese family (who wind up in prison for their activities), "The Donald" Trump who tries to break the master lease, and Leona Helmsley, the fabulously rich wife of the New York real estate magnate (who ultimatley goes to prison herself).This is a real page-turner. After three nights, I finished it and wished it were longer.