Die Unwirtlichkeit unserer Städte

by Alexander Mitscherlich

Hard to Find book

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Serena Di Cugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un saggio scritto nel 1968, terribilmente attuale. Descrive le città contemporanee, le nevrosi presenti, così come le ostilità. Promuove una cultura sui luoghi, le abitazioni e i paesaggi, cercando di avvicinarci al nostro essere sociali. Non solo da leggere, ma da aggiungere alla propria personale biblioteca. Peccato solo ce ne siano pochissime copie in giro nei mercati librerie dell'usato.

[Georg · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Die Unwirtlichkeit unserer Städte: Anstiftung zum Unfrieden", Alexander Mitscherlich's criticism of post-WWII city-planning in Germany, contains timeless facts. His remarks on the interaction between the city and it's inhabitants, the (titular) inhospitality of housing-projects and general indifference to human-centered planning are still very much applicable 45 years after this book was published.

And yet it has not aged well: It's prose must have been dry and meandering from the beginning, getting even more tedious as formerly apt references to (then) current events and persons have now faded in obscurity. This, along with too much repetitions, makes it hard to read, let alone like, the book despite the doubtless prevailing relevance. Unlike other classics of the genre, for example The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Mitscherlich's text does unfortuately not appeal to larger groups which could -- and should -- be interessted in the topic.

[Lethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

there are a few very '60's psychoanalysis' (read: cringe) statements and a lot of repetition, but it is a quick, easy read that is well worth it.