Customer Reviews

The Endless City

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Compiling the materials from the Urban Age Project lecture series, it offers a compendium of most of the London School of Economics' urban thinking of the last decade. It has some shortcomings, but ultimately offers a nice emphasis on urban environments as a complex compendium of physical and social entities with an emphasis on density analysis, and surely represents a particular and influential discourse.

I would like to clarify that since I graduated from one of their early programs 10 years ago this feels rather close, and I'm equally grateful for the influence it had in my thinking but also my criticism may also be part of a broader experience around how the LSE develops these intellectual explorations.

The book offers an interesting and important approach to the notion that an urban shift in population is the defining trend of our age. A series of takes on world cities that were the focus of the lectures articulates half of the book with some interesting pieces, although the choice and representation of these enclaves could be questioned, and surely there are some glaring omissions that would add a much needed depth to the debate.

A collection of short essays representing some issues follows. While there is some interesting material it feels a bit perfunctory with a list of usual suspects and little debate. Likewise the final sections on interventions and positions feel like a brief collection of case studies that barely illustrate with enough depth what the project tries to get at.

However the book works well as in introduction, or expansion for some readers, to offer a common ground in important contemporary urban issues. Depth is what one will not find here, but to be fair it may not be what they had in mind, and as an introduction it is hefty enough. Maybe too hefty for something that feels at time like a perfunctory compilation. But on a personal level I feel that much has not changed and where the volume lacks the most is in offering an actual critical arena, or the tools to expand a debate that by its own nature feels often too controlled and predictable.

I had great expectations for this book and they were fulfilled. Beyond the outstanding visual communication I was pleased to find myself fully reading the written portions and valuing them. The writing was not just fluff and filler. Thank you for advancing my knowledge and producing a wonderful addition to my library.

- Steve

The best part of the book is its data resource. When they compare the 6 mega cities with good graphic data, the result is really compelling. I sent this book as a gift to my boss, also recommend to my Chinese colleagues. Hope next edition could make a smaller one so it's easier to carry and read.

The abundant and well-presented data regarding six major and diversified cities is very interesting and up to date.

The analysis and comparisons between cities are enlightening.

Unfortunately, as is often the case in urban planning matters, the work falls a little short with respect to action and implementation.

One hopes however that this is only the beginning of a series and that other cities will be similarly covered in the future.

Very substantial, this book is strongly recommended for anyone interested in the field of urban planning.

This is an excellent work that alerts and informs. The quality of life on this planet is changing rapidly. The way we used to live in communities that interfaced with nature is a rare and rapidly vanishing privilige.
Endless City is a serious study that is easily read. Well done to the LSE group.

this book contains a positively exhaustive amount of information regarding urban areas and what they effect and affect and what affects and effects them. if you want to know anything about cities it is most likely to be within this book.

Mega cities: New York, London, Shanghai, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Berlin, are undergoing major transitions. Shanghai is increasing leaps and bounds, yet Johannesburg is shrinking. People are migrating to the city for jobs and clearly it is a global trend. By 2015, Lagos may have more people than Mumbai. With discount airlines, internet and globalization, it is easier to move to another city. European Union now has 27 countries, 500 million people. Where do they go? London, Paris or Berlin? Greater Tokyo will have 54 million, Euro-Lowlands (Ruhr-Cologne, Amsterdam-Rotterdam, Brussels-Antwerp, Lille) will get 50 million, Urb-Italy (Milan, Rome, Turin) gets 47 million, etc. A taconomy of towers, green city, build a community, public space, etc are urgent issues facing the increasing population of the mega cities.

I have traveled to most of these cities. I do agree with the findings of this book, "people are moving to mega cities in every country". For countries such as Japan and Germany, there was little increase in population. Many cities in East Germany now appear to be ghost towns. The government needs to change its policy, allowing more immigrants. Since the birth rates in these two countries are very low, immigration is the only way to increase populations. With more people, government will get more tax revenues and the economy will grow.

The book will be better if it covers cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm, etc. Eastern Europe is not included at all due to the lack of mega cities.