Understanding Amsterdam: Essays in Economic Vitality, City Life and Urban Form

by Leon Deben (Editor)

In a recent survey on politics, economy, environment, safety, health, education and traffic in central cities, Amsterdam ranked among the ten best places to live. The reasons why can be found in Understanding Amsterdam. Essays by ten prominent social scientists, among them Manuel Castells, Edward Soja and Susan Fainstein, present views on changes in the economy, and the cultural and spatial layout of Amsterdam, suggesting new ways of thinking about Amsterdam. They discuss urban growth and how the city has fared through the ages of suburbanization and globalization. The local situation is explored from different perspectives. The stories depict how a city with an impressive historical past is continuously adapting to change.

301 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[Alex Howard]

Radical urban squatter movements in Amsterdam, unlikely but apposite comparisons of Los Angeles and Amsterdam, statements about how a city with a highly regulated urban anarchism is a tolerant, cosmopolitan city... who wouldn't want to read essays about a great city written by so many thoughtful critics of urban form? I love this stuff. It makes me want to go back to school...even though I get to read this for work!