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matteolegge's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
a_toaster's review against another edition
3.0
A bit overlong and dry. Some of the anecdotes used, while illustrative, could've benefited from getting cut down. Jane Jacobs's ideas are worth reading and I learned a decent bit from the book. However, I think reading a summarization of her work is sufficient.
ayeshanagaria's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
please read this book just for the pleasure of jane jacobs ripping every prior city planner to shreds. it’s surprising to me (it probably shouldn’t be) that this was published as early as the ‘60s. amazing insight into the rhythms of people <3 only knocked off a star because it’s incredibly dense and i probably wouldn’t recommend it to everyone for that reason
some chapter shout outs:
the uses of sidewalks: safety beautiful section on sidewalk life as a metaphorical ballet
the uses of city neighborhoods basically an argument for democratic confederalism (without any off putting leftist lingo, and i say that lovingly)
erosion of cities or attrition of automobiles yes miss jane i’m a car hater too !
kgmck's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Great book, but extremely dense. Be prepared.
stevenpirtle's review against another edition
4.0
The book itself was really great, but what I came to realize while reading was that it was most certainly not my style of preferred reading. For someone who is interesting in the growth, development and decline of cities, this is a great resource. For someone who wants a high level of American culture in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s (think Mad Men era), then I’d keep moving.
Also, if you’re not all that interested in New York City during this time period, keep moving. The author’s primary point of reference is NYC.
I will admit, it is interesting to see how some of these areas she mentions have grown and developed or declined since the original writing of those book. Greenwich Village for example was reference as a small little community.
Also, if you’re not all that interested in New York City during this time period, keep moving. The author’s primary point of reference is NYC.
I will admit, it is interesting to see how some of these areas she mentions have grown and developed or declined since the original writing of those book. Greenwich Village for example was reference as a small little community.
ingrid_kocher's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
"I think the most important habits of thought are these:
1. To think about processes;
2. To work inductively, reasoning from particulars to the general, rather than the reverse;
3. To seek for "unaverage" clues involving very small quantities, which reveal the way larger and more "average" quantities are operating."
1. To think about processes;
2. To work inductively, reasoning from particulars to the general, rather than the reverse;
3. To seek for "unaverage" clues involving very small quantities, which reveal the way larger and more "average" quantities are operating."