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A Better Place to Live: Reshaping the American Suburb
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Paperback
First published June 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 13, 2023
I've been reading up on urban design for a project, out of what I have read this is the most complete, comprehensive look on urban design/decline in America. Not only are it's critiques of current US urban design robust, it's ability to thread the social impact and larger picture of US economics affirms the importance urban design has on daily life. The solutions along with good examples show too, maybe it is not hopeless to restore an older style of design in this country. The inclusion of many sources, many stories, and further reading also help frame the ideas presented as apart of a far larger flux of American society.
This is an incredibly easy recommend to anyone remotely interested in urban design, but also especially politics. Urban design can no longer be side-lined as a sub-issue, it must be a central focus among many other things in reanimating a viable political sphere for the normal American.
This is an incredibly easy recommend to anyone remotely interested in urban design, but also especially politics. Urban design can no longer be side-lined as a sub-issue, it must be a central focus among many other things in reanimating a viable political sphere for the normal American.
July 16, 2017
Best book I've read on the suburbs--problems and solutions. My hometown was even mentioned, as a negative example, naturally.
November 2, 2010
I'm rocking the suburbs, just like Quiet Riot did ...
No really, it's a great book so far. Langdon is the most positive writer I've encountered so far in my literary quest through the realm of urban criticism and (neo)traditionalist planning. He's even optimistic about the current ugly suburbs we deal with today. Forty years ago Leavittowns were becoming the scourge, but as time moves on, individual eccentricities come out of residents/citizens, trees grow, buildings are modified, and even the dully consistent neighborhoods such as those of Leavittown can become places of pleasantness and character.
There is a ways to go yet, but I'm enjoying the ride.
No really, it's a great book so far. Langdon is the most positive writer I've encountered so far in my literary quest through the realm of urban criticism and (neo)traditionalist planning. He's even optimistic about the current ugly suburbs we deal with today. Forty years ago Leavittowns were becoming the scourge, but as time moves on, individual eccentricities come out of residents/citizens, trees grow, buildings are modified, and even the dully consistent neighborhoods such as those of Leavittown can become places of pleasantness and character.
There is a ways to go yet, but I'm enjoying the ride.
February 27, 2016
Graduate school read. Makes you look at things differently.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews