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A review by ajkhn
Against the Commons: A Radical History of Urban Planning by Álvaro Sevilla-Buitrago
4.0
I'm of two minds about this book. On one hand, there is some really provocative writing. Particularly around the Irish enclosures and Milan in the anni di piombo. It's really great to see urban planning described as an explicitly authoritarian profession, and then in the conclusion talk about ways in which the profession can move forward.
On the other hand, it's really dense and tough to read. Definitely one of the more impenetrable academic texts I've read recently. And it kind of suffers from that "here's my point, and here's some case studies" that make it tough to thread. Like, what about the counter-examples through the centuries?
I was going to give it three stars, but there is some great stuff about enclosures in there, and I'm a softie. I definitely don't think this is a "Must Read" by any measure, but there are maybe some sections I'd cut out and teach in a a grad course.
On the other hand, it's really dense and tough to read. Definitely one of the more impenetrable academic texts I've read recently. And it kind of suffers from that "here's my point, and here's some case studies" that make it tough to thread. Like, what about the counter-examples through the centuries?
I was going to give it three stars, but there is some great stuff about enclosures in there, and I'm a softie. I definitely don't think this is a "Must Read" by any measure, but there are maybe some sections I'd cut out and teach in a a grad course.