Anthropological perspectives are not often represented in urban studies, even though many anthropologists have been contributing actively to theory and research on urban poverty, racism, globalization, and architecture. The New Urban Anthropology Reader corrects this omission by presenting 12 cross-cultural case studies focusing on the analysis of space and place.
A good volume for any anthropologist with an interest in urban space and how the city is formed and operates. Highlights include Caldiera on enclaves, Low on the differences between production and construction, and Holston's mind-blowing analysis of the modern monstrosity that is Brasília and what it's soullessness tells us about the importance of how public space is used and organized.
Introduction to some important concepts in urban anthropology, how urban anthropology became a prominent sub-field in anthropology, and some interesting ethnographic case studies.