Lost in Austin: The Evolution of an American City

by Alex Hannaford

A long-time Austinite and journalist’s exploration of the profound movements that have shaped Austin, Texas—charting the shifts within its vibrant music scene, the impact of rapid urbanization, and the challenges of gentrification—ultimately questioning what this city’s transformation signals for American urban identity.

Austin isn’t what it used to be.

This is a common sentiment amongst locals, offered with the same confused—and often disappointed—tone familiar to residents of Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco, where rapid growth and expansion have led to an urban identity crisis. Like those cities, Austin is known for its unique a thriving live music scene and housing affordability that historically made it a compelling home for creatives and self-described weirdos to roost. But now, as Big Tech infiltrates and climate change looms, Austin has become less familiar—and far less affordable.

An exploration of the beloved city’s evolution, Lost in Austin also serves as a critical exploration of the transformation that has befallen one of America’s most beloved cities—and serves as a warning for what the homogenization of cities means for American urban identity. With a journalist’s perspective and the heart of an Austinite, Alex Hannaford delves into the consequences of the city’s rapid growth in chapters that chronicle the major movements permanently altering the a vanishing music scene, soaring property values, and the encroachment of major industry.

Through keen reportage and extensive interviews, Lost in Austin unveils the toll of unchecked growth and the city’s shift from its rebellious spirit to commercialization. Through those stories—vibrant, colorful, and clearly full of love for this city—Hannaford raises a crucial How do American cities, once celebrated for their unique values, became casualties of their own rapid growth and success? And can they ever return to what they once were?

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel, Audiobook, Urban Planning, Biography Memoir

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Rachel Kessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like this was a book that contained complaints about Austin, very negative forecasts of the city’s future, and very few solutions to the problems presented. It was written by someone who was part of the problem (someone who visited Austin, fell in love with the City and then moved), which was ironic to me. I recognize the phenomena of rapid growth in a City is a relatively new (the past 20 years) problem, so not many proven solutions exist yet, but the book was depressing to read.

[Logan Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like recycling, school zoning, and curbing one's air travel in the name of lower emissions, gentrification is a thorny topic where the political and the personal mix in sometimes uncomfortable ways. The most progressive person you know certainly has highly refined sound-bite opinions about each of those issues, and yet . . . when the rubber meets the road, our society of ruthless individualists often gets the better of even the most well meaning (or loudest shouting) adherents to communitarian solidarity politics (to say nothing of militant academic Marxism).

This contradictory dynamic—the misalignment between one's actions as a person, employee, and parent with the orthodoxy of respectable "limousine liberal" newspeak—is perfect fodder for right wing radio/podcast callouts about hypocritical liberals. But regardless of how much it plays into the hand of their political opponents, some of our most up-in-arms ideas merchants cannot help themselves when it comes to saying one thing while doing another. So when left-leaning voters with assuredly upper middle class mannerisms and journalistic bona fides write elegies for their favorite bohemian idylls that have been spoiled by the forward march of late-stage capitalist progress, there will inevitably be passages full of head-scratching mismatches between the rhetorical indictments of the whims of free-market economics run amok and the author's own decision-making vis a vis the same subject matter. If you mix a manifesto with a memoir with a piece of long-form journalism (and you don't cite your sources), you can expect a bit of an eye-roll from me. See also, the book Vanishing New York by Jeremiah Moss, my review of which is available here (it hits on strikingly similar notes to this review): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Despite the mess of viewpoints about preserving history, opposing "soulless" architecture, scratching his head about the attendant affordability crisis, and running through the classic checklist of bromides about making sure Austin doesn't leave behind diverse "folks" (all while white liberal NIMBYs oppose anything that tampers with "character", put up countless environmental challenges and permitting hoops for all developers to jump through, and hate to see anything "change" about the bars and restaurants that existed at the exact moment they arrived in a city 20 years ago), Alex Hannaford comes across as a mostly thoughtful person, husband, father, and friend throughout Lost in Austin. But whether his diagnosis of Austin's ills endures as anything more than just another "get off my lawn" lament about the bygone Golden Age he swears he was just lucky enough to experience before he watched the luster fade—or maybe more importantly, whether his complaints yield anything helpful by way of solving Austin's many problems as it navigates the next few decades, when aspects of its historic dynamism will almost certainly come home to roost—receives incredibly scant mention compared to the parade of horribles he announces in these 200 pages.

Tellingly, Hannaford and his family won't be around to bear witness: they left Austin for the Hudson Valley and have no intention of looking back.

3 stars for Hannaford's well realized appreciations of some of the things that have made, and continue to make, Austin great. Otherwise, don't expect a visionary path forward from this book. And don't expect to finish reading and be able to reconcile reactionary nostalgia with truly progressive, future-oriented, pluralist, and culturally authentic urbanist philosophy any better than Hannaford can.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of prickly austinites in the reviews! I understand the feeling of good riddance, and the complaints that this is just a book of grievances with no suggestions. Look pal, the only valid suggestion is that you need to go back in time 20-45 years and make some major changes and plans, I don't know what to tell you. If you're one of the people who has moved to Austin in the last 10 years or so and thinks it's so great, I would posit that you might be equally happy in most any city of a certain size--and that's the whole point. The stuff that made Austin so cool and unique is largely homogenized and the personality of the city is --not gone, but much harder to find. I left town well before Hannaford did, nearly 15 years ago, but my trips back have shown that the growth and gentrification and changes have only accelerated since I left. It was certainly understandable for my parents' landmarks from 1970 to have changed in 40 years, but so many of my own are gone or otherwise unrecognizable, even 3 years after I left. Places I lived no longer exist; the house we sold in 2011 is now valued on zillow for close to $1 million; there still aren't roads, but there's even more people now. I don't know, man. I wish I could go to the Woodland on South Congress and park one block away and have a drink. I wish for the past. I want better for the city.

[Olivia Conway · Rating 4 out of 5]

austin is the greatest place i’ve ever lived, and it is still so flawed. like many others, i have a complicated relationship with texas, and watching it be chopped into pieces by the worst men in the entire world has been infuriating. this book was filled with so much love and so much anger, but the people i knew and the things ive seen still leave me with hope. some austin recommendations for y’all: the mexican art museum, bouldin creek cafe, the botanical gardens, the lady bird lake running community

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really not your stereotypical Austinite. I probably wouldn’t have liked the city very much before the tech boom. I avoid live music. Most BBQ is mid to me. I rarely drink and don’t smoke. That intimate, small Austin — the one before SXSW blew up and decades before Musk and Rogan moved to town — I probably wouldn’t have gotten much out of it. And yet I contemplate how magical the city must have been in that day.
Someone once sent me an article that said, in paraphrase, it doesn’t matter what year you moved to Austin; you are always nostalgic for the Austin of yesterday.
Whether you moved there in 1960 or 2020, you’re lamenting how much the city has changed from day one.
Hannaford tackles this rapidly changing American city from a local point of view. But like so many locals, he didn’t grow up there. This to me allows Hannaford to be a truly deliberate storyteller. I loved his honest and heartfelt painting of the city, laborious strokes that make one fall in love with Hannaford’s Austin. This against the gut-wrenching disappointments of Austin — the ones that can take time to reveal themselves, especially for the affluent white transplants like Hannaford and me. The systemic ones that have been there for (longer than) 80 years that pushed black and Hispanic populations to the east side then subsequently built dangerous and toxic chemical plants in their neighborhoods. And the new problems we face in our current political climate.
A big part of Hannaford’s book is spent with Hannaford and his wife grappling with the decision to leave Austin for good. Gun laws and women’s rights are at all-time low for the city. Homelessness and displacement of POC at an all-time high. It’s hell. And yet it’s a hard city to leave

[Madelyn Pollack · Rating 3 out of 5]

well-researched and passionate portrayal of Austin. as a native, i relate to Hannaford's feelings of bitterness and betrayal about what Austin has become (although he moved there in 2003, which is what seems like most older Austinites deem as already past the beginning of the end). this is a great manifesto to go along with the various "stop moving here" stickers plastered across the city. having moved away, this gives a voice to the pain that i feel seeing many staples of my childhood turned into chain restaurants and gift shops - a testament to the irreversible loss of culture that occurs when a city worships money. one reason for this is that austin does not feel like a transient city. people come here to stay here, and for better or for worse, bring with them their politics, their cultures, and their companies.

however, I disagree with his sentiment that Austin is completely doomed. sure, anyone moving there post-2020 will probably not experience the whimsical spirit of the city that many of us recall. but the people make the place, and I have to have hope that the weird western soul lives still lives on in many residents. we need to value each other, we need better politicians that actually have spines, and if you are a social media influencer reading this, please get out!!!

[Barbara Wray · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reasonably well researched and an easy read, I found the negative point of view irritating at times. Even so, it was a worthwhile read to understand the author’s perspective on change in Austin.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read a bit like a litany of complaints about Austin's expansive growth over the last 2+ decades. I was completely on board with everything he said, but the chapters didn't connect to one another much and I'm not sure what point was really being made (other than Austin is out of control w/ growth and has lost its character). It was kind of like a series of ranty essays. I thought he might talk more about how this trend is similar to other cities that have experienced rapid growth in a short span of time, but he doesn't draw too many comparisons. It was interesting to learn about history that shaped the city that I didn't know and to be reminded of events, people, and places I hadn't thought of in a while. I loved it for reminding me of the way the city was when I was younger (I lived there or in the surrounding area from 1990-2005 and 2008-2012). But it was also tough to get through because it reminded me of all of the things that shaped the city today that make me really angry (mostly, local government giving heavy preference and favor to large-scale development w/o any mind toward affordability, character, or historic preservation). Austin is nearly unrecognizable to me today, but I was glad to be reminded of how lucky I was (and how fun it was!) to get to be young and living there in its small city heyday. Things in the book that had me reminiscing: Leslie's campaign for mayor (he actually came to St. Ed's multiple times while I was a student to campaign there!), Marcia Ball, Slacker, Hut's Hamburgers (I waited tables there for 4 years, but I never called anyone "hon" as the book suggests), the Austin History Center (intern there for 2 years - love that space so much), Emo's, and so much more.

I would recommend this to anyone who has lived or does live in Austin or the surrounding area as well as folks moving there. Just note that it will probably piss you off. For all others, I'm not sure I could recommend it unless you have a specific interest in Austin or Texas more generally.

[Bret Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book in its entirety does a good job of setting expectations for transplants. I’d recommend it for people considering moving to Austin.

Hannaford does a good job of pointing out what went wrong with Austin, but doesn’t give many solutions of how to fix it in the future. The second half of the book gets very political. He contradicts himself a number of times and cherry picks evidence (which he doesn’t provide sources for) to back his arguments. Got a little whiny at times of some of the State’s policies. He’s a pretty typical transplant that is shocked to find Texas is still Conservative.

[Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stuff was interesting and informational. Some stuff really just sounded like the perspective of a privileged white man.

[Jason Rosenstock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book at the airport on my way home after a long weekend in Austin. I was thrilled with my visit and thought reading more about the city might extend that good feeling. Alas, this book is all about how Austin isn't as cool as it used to be when the author first moved there in 1999--gentrification, conservative state politics, gun access, treatment of migrants, etc. It was certainly an interesting case study of urban history and how forces can alter the "vibe" of a city. Some of this was unique to Austin, some common across the US. There was an element of "old-fogeyism" here--SXSW used to be cooler--and it got a bit repetitive after a while. But there were many interesting stories, and I did enjoy the writing.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author came to Austin, Texas in 1999. I left the area in 1995 after living in Round Rock, Texas since 1985 ; Round Rock is north of Austin.
A lot of the change and growth of Austin was before the author moved to this area. He is right about the title of the book, Lost in Austin because it is how we felt when we have returned for a visit. I feel the book was political in many ways but he does give a lot of Texas history and names a lot of people. Austin has always been more liberal than other parts of the state.
I gave it a 4 star for the research and a 3 star for his opinions. I won a complimentary copy of Lost in Austin and the opinions are my own.

[Paul Yu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good research, but it was mostly complaints from a transplant who fell in love with the city in the early 2000s. He left Austin for valid reasons, but he is also part of the problem he writes about lol. Still, it was an informative read

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a recent transplant to Austin (Bastrop from 2017-2024 and moved to Austin in 2024), I really enjoyed this look into the context of Austin! I’m now on a hunt for more nonfiction audiobooks about Austin!

The two things I didn’t like about it were how negative it is at times. I came away from several chapters just outright anxious and scared for my future in Austin.

The second thing was the whiplash I got from the audiobook narrator’s accent changes. The author is a British ex-pat, so the narrator reads in a British accent, but anytime there are quotes from anyone else, he changes to what he thinks their accent would sound like. It’s weird. And my ear/brain connection has to do like a double-take to follow it since I’d been listening to a completely different accent. As soon as I get a handle on the temporary accent, he switches back to the British accent.



Whether you've lived in Bastrop for a few months, a few years, or a few decades, you will enjoy this sociological look into our biggest neighbor! 

Author Alex Hannaford is a British ex-pat who moved to Austin in the early 2000's, where he met his wife, bought a house, brought a daughter home from the hospital, and made fantastic friends. Like many, he is an Austin transplant. But what makes this a unique work of nonfiction is that he is a journalist who has been writing stories on Austin and Texas culture for 20+ years. 

That unique background has given him insight into how Austin has changed not only as a resident, but as someone who has researched, interviewed, and written about the music scene, the gentrification, the edicts from City Hall, the gun laws, the rapid urbanization, and everything in-between. He has been able to look back at those articles and see what impression and predictions still ring true or have come into being. 

I really enjoyed how well researched this book is. But don't let nonfiction scare you away! It reads like fiction and is very engrossing. I greatly enjoyed this look into the context of our neighboring city. 

[patina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this audiobook, it was easy and interesting to listen to. I would recommend this to anyone who lives or has lived in Austin. I learned a lot but it was also cool to see what I already knew from my classes or just from living here.

Some reviews say it sounds very negative and privileged but idk what you would expect from a British journalist. Like I’d rather a white man be writing about this than white supremacy idk.

[Eileen Murray Roybal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s quick, and well-researched. It doesn’t have the same spirit as Lawrence Wright’s, “God Save Texas.” But it’s a pretty similar vibe. The Austin, Texas I fell in love with 37 years ago, isn’t the same place we moved to 25 years ago. This book brought back some memories.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Austin has its fair share of problems and this book identifies several of them accurately. But there's just no getting around the fact that the author of this book is an absolute chore to spend time with. Nothing but pages and pages of whining and complaining - the facts are few and the personal opinions are many. He whines about the problems and then whines about the proposed solutions. He whines even when he has a complaint that is contradicted by a complaint he had earlier. A bunch of his complaints don't even particularly make sense (particularly baffling was an interlude where he talks about a poorly constructed old house with an illustrious history of being owned by an abusive piece of shit, and then chastises people who don't care about the house for being ignorant about history). Reading this book is like taking a road trip with a tired five-year-old.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part history, part eulogy, part love story. Hannaford attempts to explain how the Austin so many fell in love with lost its identity. Each chapter takes on a new issue: homelessness, climate change, political divide, etc. He manages to walk the line of explaining very real issues without leaving the reader feeling completely hopeless. The Austin of the early 2000s may be gone forever but the unique culture of the city might still find a way forward.

[Taylor Womack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scratches a validating itch for a former Austinite, but is oddly edited and reads like a wandering list of woes with minimal insight into how to resolve the issues raised. Maybe this book was written for the much-bemoaned millionaires that only arrive in Austin for SXSW, but anyone who has lived in the city for any amount of time will find most of the content frustrating and familiar.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.5 tbh.

Delving into the many factors that created the culture of Austin, as well as the many ways that it seems to be falling apart because of its very nature was interesting. I am usually not a fan of non-fiction where the author really injects themselves into it, however, this was less noticeable. I loved the mix of personal, stats, facts, data, and what seems like oral history from someone who isn't a native of the city and can have really interesting perspectives on things. Overall, I enjoyed it. It's a completely edible and manageable conversation about Austin from about the 1970s to today and I appreciate that.

[Carly Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adequate explanation of some of the issues plaguing Austin, Texas - increasing hot weather, immigration, homelessness, gentrification, pushing out of lower- and middle-class residents. Nothing particularly new or in depth. There are no footnotes or sources cited and only a short bibliography. Some of the information could have used more exploration - such as gun ownership. The author is a journalist and his own life story of discovering Austin in the late 1990s and eventually moving away during the Covid pandemic are a big focus of the book.

[Matthew Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, which is the reason I finished. As an austin lover from afar I was filled with sadness, and this book came across as an unending ode to "it ain't what it used to be" and a eulogy to every city after people think its cool.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're a liberal like the UK author of Lost in Austin Alex Hannaford, and thinking of a move to Austin read this book! You'll save yourself and us, the residents of Austin, a lot of time, money and aggravation. You won't like it, because, as the author takes a whole book to tell you, it's still Texas.

Hannaford points, quite correctly, that Austin isn't so much an oasis of traditional Liberal values in a big, red, intellectually arid state, but has always been a haven for Libertarianism. And Austin Libertarians are very different than Liberals. They hold dear a lot of the same values as Conservatives in the rest of the state, e.g., freedom of speech, a distrust of big government and the right bear arms. The latter of which was a big red flag to the author. It's what seemed to clue Hannaford in to the fact that Austinites aren't really Liberals.

Hannaford points out the vast number of home-grown Libertarians in Austin, like Alex Jones, and those that moved from other states, such as Joe Rogan and Elon Musk. Although, he completely misses Ross Ulbricht, the ultimate Libertarian, and the Silk Road story, which all went down during his tenure here.

He decries the loss of small live music venues, which is true, but fails to point out that the music scene in Austin, as a whole, is bigger than it ever was, it has simply evolved into large music festivals such as SXSW and ACL Fest. Austin had a choice in the 70s as to which direction it wanted to go, to become like Nashville or something else. It chose the festivals, because that's what Austin did best, as the now-defunct Aqua Fest once exemplified (also not mentioned in the book).

Ultimately there is nothing even-handed about his portrayal of Austin or Texas. When touting the benefits of Austin, he only talks about the lakes and the hike and bike trails. Nothing about the pedestrian bridges and walkways, the miles of bike lanes downtown and the myriad of sports complexes for golf, pickleball, roller skating, skateboarding, etc.

Although, he does mention the fact that Texas has its own power-grid, its presented as a negative. Nor does he give even a mention of H-E-B, Texas' own grocery store chain, which is consistently voted the best in the United States and one of the biggest contributors to Texas' quality of life. He doesn't mention the wonderful highway infrastructure of the state nor the Buc-ees that line it, which are bigger than most grocery stores in the U.K.

Why would anyone move to Texas who didn't want to be Texan? This is Texas, what exactly did you expect to find here? It's pathetic that he was so ignorant of the culture of the state before coming here. He didn't even seem to be aware of the fact that we have lots of guns in Texas. It would make most Texans cringe.

[Luis Cuesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. The author, Alex Hannaford took up residence in Austin when it seemed the coolest, hippest, most happening place on the planet, a welcoming town as eccentric and offbeat as many of its occupants. But gradually, insidiously, the reality of Austin set in and he decided to move after living there for more than fifteen years. That experience is a the core of "Lost in Austin".
Throughout his essay, Hannaford argues that whatever the grumblings of the discontented from previous eras, the turn of the twenty-first century really was a tipping point, brought on in part by Austin’s tech boom and the city’s jaw-dropping growth. Since 2000, Austin’s population has mushroomed by nearly 50 percent, to just under one million people; it is now the nation’s eleventh-largest city. That expansion has led to soaring housing costs, infuriating traffic jams, and a commercial construction boom that has at once transformed the city’s skyline but left Austin with a glut of postpandemic vacant office space.
Hannaford offers a contrasting image to that one, citing the work of Dowell Myers, a former urban planner at the University of Texas, who published a paper in 1987 that, among other things, examined the “unique assets and amenities” that made Austin special. Those variables were “the state capital, the University of Texas, the laid-back lifestyle . . . an abundance of water resources for recreation, and the homegrown music scene.” Old-timers might recall that the restaurant landscape was uninspiring, housing was cheap, Willie Nelson and his buds were throwing down at the Austin Opry House, and the beer was ice cold.
But gradually, insidiously, the reality of Austin set in. Uncontrolled development, gentrification, environmental decay, racism, gun proliferation, water depletion, homelessness, and deterioration—the same forces that had ravaged other appealing American cities—were transforming Austin into an enclave almost solely for the wealthy.
The conclusion that Hannaford offers is that, as well-known as the state capital and home of the University of Texas was for its music scene, Austin has already become a victim of its own allure.

[Michaela Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Alex Hannaford, Dey Street Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Full disclosure, I was a San Marcos girl and not an Austin girl, but I can see how the changes being made to the city of Austin are ebbing into it's surrounding areas. I left Texas about 3 years ago to move to a small town in Western NC, and some of the points Hannaford made definitely influenced my decision. It's hot, it's crowded, it's gentrified, the class disparity is truly astounding, Elon Musk and Joe Rogan are there now, the lakes and rivers are drying up, and our politicians not only don't give a shit but are also actively further limiting our rights (6 week abortion ban anyone?). It makes me sound like an oldhead to complain about how Austin used to be, especially because I wasn't even around to experience it in it's peak of weirdness and culture around art and music. However, I have seen drastic changes and closures of some iconic and unique Austin spots (Barracuda, Lucy in Disguise etc). It's just becoming like every other expensive, boring, and unidentifiable city in the United States. In this way, Hannaford's analysis of Austin could probably be recognized in other cities. It's almost like when you push out people of color, lower income populations, and artists and musicians that can't afford the high rent prices in a city with almost no public transportation- you get a bland city devoid of all culture and character. I think this book is both a love letter and call-out post to Austin that I can relate to a lot. Hannaford's interspersed perspective as a Austenite transplant felt personal to me, almost like I've been waiting for these ideas to be compiled and talked about for a long time. In the end, Hannaford and his family leave Austin, just like I left San Marcos. It was a really hard decision, especially since I still sometimes wore my rose-colored glasses. However, like Hannaford, I'm glad I did it. Austin might just be a lost cause.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book is kind of like having that friend with Trump Derangement Syndrome. This friend is a very smart guy who schooled himself well on the facts and can express himself well. Nevertheless, you've stopped seeing this friend so often because, whenever you see him, he cannot control himself. You agree with this friend: Trump is terrible. You've already made an effort to inform yourself on the important matters of the day, so you already know all the stuff your friend is talking about. Perhaps you know it just as well or better than your friend does. But the friend has lost the ability to check whether the people who are in his presence are actually listening to him or not. He's just too angry to care.

Reading this book is kind of like having that friend who, again, is a good person whose heart is in the right place, but he can't stop talking about his ex. Even though he was completely right to break up with her, he can't quite get her out of his head. You already know about the bad, crazy, toxic things that the ex did. You don't need to hear it again. Yet, here it comes, the litany of grievances so familiar that you can finish his sentences for him.

It took me months and several false starts to read this book because it just didn't hold my attention. I live in Austin. I try to stay informed. I’d love to see Austin turn into a better place. Hannaford's criticisms are completely legitimate. They just are not presented in a compelling manner. Reading this book was a chore.

I received an advance review copy of this book, electronically, for free, from the publisher via Netgalley.

[Leandro Coronel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, although I found it a bit disorganized. First what I liked about it is that the author talks about measurable things along with characteristics of the city that are often left out of the conversation.
To give an example of measurable things that are covered in the book: traffic, housing, rent, affordability, access to resources, segregation, education, death rates, etc.
As for the characteristics of the city, the author focuses more on the human side of the city, the aspects of it that gives a soul to a place and that in the end are the true reason why people used to pick Austin as a place to live. A combination of relaxed, laid back, music focused, affordable and diverse city. As the author continues through the book it can be seen how all these characteristics are being lost in the commodification and standardization of the city, which is just a copy paste the other cities in some areas.
Something interesting is that the different waves of city expansion are being covered, 70s, early 80s, 80 slow down, 90s, 2000s and the recent boom. All of them seems to repeat itself intensifying that loose of originality and that sense of wherever place.
What I don't like about the book is that it is a bit disorganized, even though the book is organized per topic the timeline is not covered linearly and sometimes it is mixed with personal stories. Personal stories give the human touch but at the same time if they are mixed with the factual information it gives the sensation that it is only the author perspective, despite the fact of the data presented.
Overall is a good book that talks about a city losing its identity and worsening the quality of life of their inhabitants in the process.

[Sean Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been making periodic trips to Austin for the past few years. My work currently has me there 3 or 4 times a year. Every visit there seems to be fewer and fewer of the places that made it special whether that's music venues or bars or restaurants or even just the people that made it great. That's a common feeling in a lot of major US cities these days. Uniqueness has been replaced by uniform blandness and soaring rents.

Alex Hannaford, a British born journalist, fell in love with Austin while on a US road trip and later permantly relocated in the early 00's. He married, started a family there until he ultimately became disillusioned with Austin and left it in 2019. While people will tell you Austin has been going downhill since the 70s or really whenever fits their timeline of the city. When I was living in Boston it started to get expensive in the late 00's and several friends fled and seemed to end up in either Portland or Austin. Hannaford's time in Austin roughly mirrors the time that drew my friends in.

"Lost in Austin" is orgnaized with each chapter covering a major problem facing the city from high housing costs to global warming to the army of proto-fascist tech bros that have made it home base. While I don't always agree with Hannaford's suggested solutions the format works and his personal experience adds welcome depth.

It'a an entertaining read if you're planning on visiting or, god forbid, debating relocating there.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Dey Street Books and NetGalley for an ARC.

In this book, the author interweaves his experience living in Austin for 20+ years with how the city has evolved. He shares early on that he and his family moved from Austin, and that he views the myriad changes that have taken place, transforming it from a sleepy government/college town to the present day incarnation, as a true loss.

I thought this was a compelling read as a blended memoir and municipal history. The book is organized into subjects impacted by Austin’s changes, like environmental hazards, politics, climate change, gentrification, and more. Since I’ve been in Austin, off and on for nearly 20 years, there weren’t any huge surprises, but the book was a fascinating tour of the city’s evolution and many problems.

Most people who approach this book will probably have some ties to Austin like me, but I think it’s a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the effects of very poor urban planning, Its contents can certainly be extrapolated to other growing cities. If there’s a downside to the book, it’s that the book is truly a downer. There isn’t an easy solution here– it’s both a mess of our own making (including folks like me who moved to Austin!) and a deep betrayal on the part of our municipal and state leaders to safeguard the future and the health of their citizens.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long time Austinite (and Brit) explores the shifts within the vibrant music scene, the impact of rapid urbanization, and the challenges of gentrification in Austin, Texas. I enjoyed the walk down memory lane, and also felt a kinship with the author as he mentioned so much of “the hidden underbelly” of Austin. While Austin maybe be weird but has it ever really been a blue dot in a red satte? It is one of the most segregated cities in the country by design. There is a long history of pushing black and lantino citizens out of homes and to the edges for the city for “progress”. High ways such as 35 and MoPac were toold of this.

As a longtime Texan I appriciated this book and hope more people read it and understand that the “new” Austin isn’t becasue of outsiders coming in its an amplification of what has always been here.

Thank you NetGalley and Dey streey Books for an advanced copy. #LostinAustin #NetGalley.