In 'The Death and Life of Great American Cities', Jane Jacobs challenges conventional urban planning principles, arguing that cities are vibrant ecosystems that flourish through diversity and community engagement. She criticizes the destructive effects of top-down planning and the decline of urban life due to the prioritization of cars and wide roads over pedestrian-friendly spaces. Jacobs passionately advocates for the importance of mixed-use development, dense neighborhoods, and lively public spaces that foster social interactions. Through vivid observations and compelling examples, she reveals how grassroots movements can revitalize cities and enhance the quality of life. This groundbreaking work invites readers to rethink their urban environments and become agents of change in their own communities.
By Jane Jacobs
Published: 1992
"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because and only when they are created by everybody."
Compassionate, bracingly indignant, and keenly detailed, a monumental work that provides an essential framework for assessing the vitality of all cities. "The most refreshing, provacative, stimulating and exciting study of this [great problem] which I have seen. It fairly crackles with bright honesty and common sense." —The New York Times A direct and fundamentally optimistic indictment of the short-sightedness and intellectual arrogance that has characterized much of urban planning in this century, The Death and Life of Great American Cities has, since its first publication in 1961, become the standard against which all endeavors in that field are measured. In prose of outstanding immediacy, Jane Jacobs writes about what makes streets safe or unsafe; about what constitutes a neighborhood, and what function it serves within the larger organism of the city; about why some neighborhoods remain impoverished while others regenerate themselves. She writes about the salutary role of funeral parlors and tenement windows, the dangers of too much development money and too little diversity.
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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because and only when they are created by everybody.”
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
By Jane Jacobs
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Jane Jacobs was an influential American-Canadian urbanist, author, and activist known for her pioneering work in urban planning and community development. Born on May 4, 1916, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Jacobs is best known for her seminal book "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" (1961), which challenged the prevailing notions of urban design. Her writing style is characterized by keen observational detail, persuasive arguments, and an emphasis on the importance of vibrant, community-oriented spaces. Other notable works include "The Economy of Cities" (1969), "The Nature of Economies" (2000), and "Dark Age Ahead" (2004), which explore the relationship between urban environments and economic vitality. Jacobs' advocacy for mixed-use development and her critique of top-down planning processes have left a lasting impact on urban studies and the fight for more livable cities.
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