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Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places
Following the widespread success of For the Love of Cities, this book builds upon the central premise that love of place matters, with more examples from all over the world and practical steps that community leaders, both official and unofficial, might use to kick start the process in their city. This book explores how to build networks of co-creators, how to allay community fears, how to deal with naysayers and bad news, how to find your authentic identity and how little bits of funding can be instrumental in creating big changes.
- GenresNonfiction
157 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
33 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kageyama
7 books41 followersPeter Kageyama is the bestselling author of For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places, the follow ups, Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places, and The Emotional Infrastructure of Places. In 2021, he released For the Love of Cities REVISITED, a revised and updated version of his award-winning book.
In 2023, his debut novel, Hunters Point, based in part upon the post-internment life of his parents, was released by St. Petersburg Press.
Peter is a special advisor to America In Bloom and was a Senior Fellow with the Alliance for Innovation, a national network of city leaders. He is an internationally sought-after community development consultant and grassroots engagement strategist who speaks about bottom-up community development and the amazing people who are making change happen around the world.
In 2023, his debut novel, Hunters Point, based in part upon the post-internment life of his parents, was released by St. Petersburg Press.
Peter is a special advisor to America In Bloom and was a Senior Fellow with the Alliance for Innovation, a national network of city leaders. He is an internationally sought-after community development consultant and grassroots engagement strategist who speaks about bottom-up community development and the amazing people who are making change happen around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 1, 2024
Finishing out my 2023 reads with maybe the best one I've read all year! Love Where You Live is about creating more interesting, engaging, and lovable cities to live in. I mean, how can you not love that idea?
It talks about how individuals can participate in city making and why cities are better because of it. The author talks about how cities should partner with prominent community members (co-creators) to amplify innovative, creative, and fun community ideas and how these seemingly small or insignificant ideas can have real and incredibly positive emotional and subsequently economical impact.
He invites anyone who is part of a community to ask “where’s the fun?”, to break some rules, and to create more love notes. I have to highlight maybe my favorite paragraph in this book about love notes (Chapter 2, Love Campaigns, page 72): "Some. may wonder if the proliferation of love campaigns everywhere will make the idea into a cliché. I hope not. Have we stopped writing love songs because thousand have come before? Does you partner ever get tired of hearing that you love him or her? Can you ever say "I love you" too much to those that matter most? I think not. Love campaigns will manifest in their own unique and local ways. They will ebb and flow and change over time, just like any relationship. They will always seem trite and clichéd to the cynical, and that is fine. Most of us want to live in a world where love matters and in a city that reflects that ideal back to us: A city that we can love and one that, in some strange, improbable way, loves us back.
Peter Kageyama's optimism, humor, and creativity shine so brightly throughout this book, its almost impossible not to feel a little more hopeful, a little less serious, and a LOT more love for the people and places that make our cities special.
100/10 recommend
It talks about how individuals can participate in city making and why cities are better because of it. The author talks about how cities should partner with prominent community members (co-creators) to amplify innovative, creative, and fun community ideas and how these seemingly small or insignificant ideas can have real and incredibly positive emotional and subsequently economical impact.
He invites anyone who is part of a community to ask “where’s the fun?”, to break some rules, and to create more love notes. I have to highlight maybe my favorite paragraph in this book about love notes (Chapter 2, Love Campaigns, page 72): "Some. may wonder if the proliferation of love campaigns everywhere will make the idea into a cliché. I hope not. Have we stopped writing love songs because thousand have come before? Does you partner ever get tired of hearing that you love him or her? Can you ever say "I love you" too much to those that matter most? I think not. Love campaigns will manifest in their own unique and local ways. They will ebb and flow and change over time, just like any relationship. They will always seem trite and clichéd to the cynical, and that is fine. Most of us want to live in a world where love matters and in a city that reflects that ideal back to us: A city that we can love and one that, in some strange, improbable way, loves us back.
Peter Kageyama's optimism, humor, and creativity shine so brightly throughout this book, its almost impossible not to feel a little more hopeful, a little less serious, and a LOT more love for the people and places that make our cities special.
100/10 recommend
October 26, 2021
Lots of good examples of cities where co-creators have something unique that residents respond to emotionally. The author stresses the impact small things can have as well as an attitude of citizens to take an active part in city-making instead of local government always having to initiate and control it.
May 13, 2015
A fine follow up to his first book, but I deducted a star for some silly comments about Austin (v.s. Denver, for some reason). Not sure what his agenda was there.
February 6, 2018
A perfectly fine follow-up to "For the Love of Cities."
February 12, 2025
Peter Kageyama's Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places builds upon his earlier work, For the Love of Cities, delving deeper into the emotional connections between people and their communities. The book offers practical insights for both official and unofficial community leaders to foster environments that residents can genuinely love.
Three Lessons Worth Remembering
Empowering Local Co-Creators
Kageyama emphasizes the importance of building networks of co-creators within communities. He suggests that by engaging passionate residents in the development process, cities can cultivate a sense of ownership and pride among inhabitants. This collaborative approach not only enhances the city's appeal but also strengthens community bonds.
Embracing Authentic Identity
The author advises communities to discover and embrace their authentic identities. By highlighting unique cultural, historical, or natural attributes, cities can differentiate themselves and foster a sense of belonging among residents. This authenticity attracts both locals and visitors, contributing to a vibrant community life.
Leveraging Small Investments for Big Changes
Kageyama illustrates how modest funding can lead to significant community improvements. He provides examples of small-scale projects that have had substantial positive impacts, demonstrating that even limited resources, when used creatively, can make a city more livable and lovable.
Positive Observation
The book is lauded for its practical approach, offering actionable steps that community leaders can implement to enhance their cities. Kageyama's enthusiasm and optimism inspire readers to believe in their capacity to effect change, regardless of their official positions or resources.
Negative Observations
Limited Exploration of Challenges
While the book provides numerous examples of successful community initiatives, it may not sufficiently address the challenges and obstacles that can arise during implementation. A more in-depth discussion on overcoming resistance or failure would offer a more balanced perspective.
Potential Overemphasis on Small-Scale Projects
Kageyama highlights the impact of small investments, which is encouraging; however, this focus might underplay the importance of larger infrastructural developments necessary for comprehensive urban improvement. A discussion on integrating small-scale projects with broader city planning efforts could provide a more holistic view.
In conclusion, Love Where You Live serves as an inspiring guide for individuals passionate about enhancing their communities. Kageyama's insights encourage readers to take initiative, embrace authenticity, and recognize the power of small actions in creating emotionally engaging places.
Three Lessons Worth Remembering
Empowering Local Co-Creators
Kageyama emphasizes the importance of building networks of co-creators within communities. He suggests that by engaging passionate residents in the development process, cities can cultivate a sense of ownership and pride among inhabitants. This collaborative approach not only enhances the city's appeal but also strengthens community bonds.
Embracing Authentic Identity
The author advises communities to discover and embrace their authentic identities. By highlighting unique cultural, historical, or natural attributes, cities can differentiate themselves and foster a sense of belonging among residents. This authenticity attracts both locals and visitors, contributing to a vibrant community life.
Leveraging Small Investments for Big Changes
Kageyama illustrates how modest funding can lead to significant community improvements. He provides examples of small-scale projects that have had substantial positive impacts, demonstrating that even limited resources, when used creatively, can make a city more livable and lovable.
Positive Observation
The book is lauded for its practical approach, offering actionable steps that community leaders can implement to enhance their cities. Kageyama's enthusiasm and optimism inspire readers to believe in their capacity to effect change, regardless of their official positions or resources.
Negative Observations
Limited Exploration of Challenges
While the book provides numerous examples of successful community initiatives, it may not sufficiently address the challenges and obstacles that can arise during implementation. A more in-depth discussion on overcoming resistance or failure would offer a more balanced perspective.
Potential Overemphasis on Small-Scale Projects
Kageyama highlights the impact of small investments, which is encouraging; however, this focus might underplay the importance of larger infrastructural developments necessary for comprehensive urban improvement. A discussion on integrating small-scale projects with broader city planning efforts could provide a more holistic view.
In conclusion, Love Where You Live serves as an inspiring guide for individuals passionate about enhancing their communities. Kageyama's insights encourage readers to take initiative, embrace authenticity, and recognize the power of small actions in creating emotionally engaging places.
November 12, 2022
I have lived in various places around the United States and I believe you make the place you live a home by being engaged. This book proves numerous examples of what people in various cities have done to create a community spirit. Lots of suggestions/questions to consider for anyone who wants to be more involved in making where you live a special place.
September 16, 2021
Lots of fun ideas for communities to consider. Very inspiring but I still feel like I do not know where or how to use my energy in my area.
This book envigorated my passion for my community and will definitely help me put it to good use.
This book envigorated my passion for my community and will definitely help me put it to good use.
March 8, 2023
Written in vignettes, it was easy and interesting to read, but hard to follow from one vignette to another so a lot of stopping and starting. Several notable reflections on how city governments and their respective communities can better collaborate.
March 20, 2023
engage co-creators
set the bar low, $500 microgrants
shift thinking on eye sores to opportunities
become better storytellers
realize that emotion and good feeling are as valuable as ROI
remember quirk and humor
set the bar low, $500 microgrants
shift thinking on eye sores to opportunities
become better storytellers
realize that emotion and good feeling are as valuable as ROI
remember quirk and humor
January 7, 2023
This book is very good for people and communities in the very early stages of developing ways to connect people with their communities. A lot of great examples about ways communities have successfully done this but not enough meat about how to actually come up with your own.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews