I could care less about NYC, but I agree her perspective is unique....from not much after the birth of manual typewriters to cell phones with orders of magnitude more computing power than the moon landing.
From airplanes being interesting sideshows to space shuttles.
And common disease (or minor injury) being terminal, to modern medicine.
Of course, it also went from self-reliance to “cradle-to-grave” welfare, so it’s not all good.
The point of view from a major city, especially a major immigrant point like NYC would be different than what rural folk say. Did you ever read A Tree Goes in Brooklyn?