Book Reviews
Triumph of the City
Released February 10th, 2011, Trimuph of the City is the latest book to examine the value of cities. Written by Ed Glaseser, an economist at Harvard, the book explores "How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier." Dwelling largely on the social aspects of cities, Glaeser walks through the various aspects of city life that enable cities to succeed or fail including public health, public education, and transportation. He walks through evidence-based examples of why cities work to increase their residents wealth and health, examining the spread of ideas and disease as well.
Jun 8th, 2011 by Jeramey Jannene
Garbage Land – Book Review
Garbage Land, by Elizabeth Royte, is billed as a book about "the secret trail of trash". The author follows her waste streams from her Brooklyn home to their various destinations across the Northeast. This includes ride alongs with "san men", visits to metal scrappers, discussions with composters, tours of MRF plants (materials recovery facility), water treatment plants, and the Fresh Kills landfill.
Apr 17th, 2011 by Jeramey Jannene
The Wealth of Cities by John Norquist – Book Review
Milwaukee's former Mayor, John Norquist, in his book The Wealth of Cities writes up the impacts of U.S. policies on our cities, lays out his foundational beliefs that today form a key plank of the New Urbanism movement, and shares his insight into how he believes cities should be governed.
Dec 22nd, 2010 by Dave Reid
The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg – Book Review
The Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg, discusses a part of community life that is fading in the U.S.
Dec 2nd, 2010 by Dave Reid
The Great Reset by Richard Florida – Book Review
Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class, takes a broad look at the current economic crisis in his latest book.
Nov 25th, 2010 by Jeramey Jannene
The High Cost of Free Parking
The High Cost of Free Parking makes the American Planning Association’s 100 Essential Books of Planning, and for good reason.
Aug 27th, 2010 by Dave Reid
Carjacked – The Culture of the Automobile
Carjacked, The Culture of the Automobile and Its Effects On Our Lives, explores the love, lust, and reality of America's car culture.
Aug 8th, 2010 by Jeramey Jannene
City Comforts – How to Build an Urban Village
“City Comforts - How to Build an Urban Village” by David Sucher is almost a CliffsNotes on the topic of urban planning.
Jul 22nd, 2010 by Dave Reid
Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) – Book Review
Tom Vanderbilt's in-depth, fact filled, and thought provoking "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)" dives into how factors, such as human nature, the automobile, and the built environment impact how we drive.
Jun 29th, 2010 by Dave Reid
Green Metropolis
Author David Owen, makes a strong argument, and one that flies in the face of many activities and technologies that are traditionally labeled as 'green'. Instead he argues that truly living green, is living dense.
Jun 3rd, 2010 by Dave Reid
Pedaling Revolution
Jeff Mapes, author of “Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities,” provides an in-depth history of cycling, and looks at how cycling is changing U.S. cities for the better.
May 27th, 2010 by Dave Reid
The Plan of Chicago – Book Review
The Plan of Chicago is a quick and easy read that's perhaps best described as a launchpad. Carl Smith breaks down key aspects of Burnham's plan in his book and details how they came to be, who influenced them, and how they turned out. For someone who hasn't actually read the actual plan (not required or expected for reading this book), author Carl Smith uses just the right amount of detail to illustrate the concepts.
Apr 19th, 2010 by Jeramey Jannene
