First published 2011
Urban economist Edward Glaeser challenges widespread assumptions about city life in America. He presents evidence that cities represent humanity's most important creation and offer the best path forward. Glaeser demonstrates that urban areas deliver better health outcomes, environmental benefits, and economic opportunities than commonly believed. New Yorkers live longer than other Americans, with lower rates of heart disease and cancer. City residents consume 40 percent less energy than their suburban counterparts. The author examines cities across the globe, from Silicon Valley to Bangalore, from thriving Boston to struggling Detroit. He explores why housing costs vary dramatically between Los Angeles and Houston, identifies January temperatures as a key growth factor, and reveals how certain cold cities overcome this challenge. Glaeser visits developing world cities like Kinshasa and Lagos, showing how even troubled urban centers provide advantages over surrounding rural areas. The book offers practical insights for cities facing decline and exposes political biases that harm urban development.
Genres: economics, non-fiction, urban, cities, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: informative, persuasive
Setting: Bangalore, Boston, Detroit, Kinshasa, Lagos, Los Angeles, Houston, Silicon Valley
Period: 21st-century
352 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press