The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition - Softcover

Kunstler, James Howard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0743227239 ISBN 13: 9780743227230

Publisher: Free Press, 2003

Synopsis

The City in Mind is a far-reaching discourse on the history and current state of urban life. Kunstler reflects on various and diverse cities across the world and investigates the nature and character of their city lives. From London to Mexico City, he takes an in-depth look at each city's history, development and state of architectural and societal success. Other cities explored include Rome, Berlin and Paris. In his investigations, he discovers a disparate Europe with its mix of pre-industrial creativity, war-marked reminders of the twentieth century, and the architectural aftermath of World War II, modernism, and for some, the Cold War. In his discussions on Western culture, Kunstler expands the notions of urbanism first discussed by Jane Jacobs. His examination of cities is at once a concise history of their urban lives and a detailed criticism of how those histories have either aided or hindered the social and civil progress of the cities' occupants.

About this title

Review:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Kunstler has given thousands of ordinary Americans a vocabulary for articulating what they love and loathe about their surroundings.

Lloyd Eby The World & I Kunstler's acerbic opinions and mastery of the apposite phrase, occurring on nearly every page, make for exhilarating reading.

Sam Morris San Francisco Chronicle Kunstler brings a real-world practicality that's lacking in too many books about cities. He's a thorough reporter, with a lively style.

Michael Fainelli The Christian Science Monitor Disturbing others' sense of normality is something Kunstler does well...everyone who knows his work acknowledges his power to wake up a crowd.

Synopsis:

An in-depth investigation of the developments of urban environments and how we are affected by it The City in Mind is a far-reaching discourse on the history and current state of urban life. Kunstler reflects on various and diverse cities across the world and investigates the nature and character of their city lives. From London to Mexico City, he takes an in-depth look at each city's history, development and state of architectural and societal success. Other cities explored include Rome, Berlin and Paris. In his investigations, he discovers a disparate Europe with its mix of pre-industrial creativity, war-marked reminders of the twentieth century, and the architectural aftermath of World War II, modernism, and for some, the Cold War. In his discussions on Western culture, Kunstler expands the notions of urbanism first discussed by Jane Jacobs. His examination of cities is at once a concise history of their urban lives and a detailed criticism of how those histories have either aided or hindered the social and civil progress of the cities' occupants.

About this edition

• Publisher: Free Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0743227239
• ISBN 13: 9780743227230
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 295