Customer Reviews

Genius of Common Sense

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In my quest to understand the life, work and impact of Jane Jacobs, I have read almost every book, by or on Jane. On book that I had put off reading was The Genius of Common Sense by Glenna Lang and Marjory Wunsch. It wasn't a priority for me, as the book is targeted to young reader and I thought it would be too basic given my knowledge of Jane and her writings.

Big mistake!

The Genius of Common Sense is a must read for anybody interested in the life and work of Jane Jacobs. While indeed meant for young adults, the clear and concise writing provides a great introduction to the queen of urbanism. It's a quick and easy--but nonetheless compelling--read.

The book takes you on a journey from Jane's earliest days in Scranton, through her early days in New York to her battles with Robert Moses and the publication of Death and Life, and ultimately to her move to Toronto. It also talks about the people and instances that influenced her and her thinking. it is packed with details often overlooked in more academic texts, including her unruliness in grade school and her fascination with manhole covers.

The book includes excellent illustrations by the authors and rarely seen photographs of Jane and her family. It concludes with excellent appendices, including a bibliography, a chronology of Jane's live and detailed chapter notes.

The Genius of Common Sense was written to bring alive the life of Jane Jacobs for any teenager wondering how s/he can make a difference in the world. It surpasses this goal and will inspire people of all ages to get involved in their community.

[...] [...]

My wife is a big Jane Jacobs fan, so I purchased "Genius of Common Sense" for my nephew. But before I gave it to him, I opened it up to a random page. I was totally glued to the book, and finished reading it to the end in one sitting, and then went back and read it from the start. It is an absorbing read with superb illustrations. I could not recommend it more highly. I just bought another copy to keep for myself. Why can't all kids books be this good and thought provoking?

Jane Jacobs won two battles with the most powerful man in New York, and this is the story of her life which encompassed much more than those fights. Photographs and superb drawings of the real places and the real people enhance this book. The writing is lovely and clear, and the story is a great one.

Written in clean, succinct prose, this book highlights the life of Jane Jacobs, a woman with so much intellectual curiosity and vitality that she changed perceptions about the appearance and function of inner cities. The book tantalizes with unexpected, sometimes quaint, details about Jacobs -- that she and her sister subsisted on Pablum when they were in their youthful "starving artist" phase, for example. The authors really did their research. Strongly recommended for its intended youthful audience as well as adults interested in 20th century feminism, city planning, or American cities.

All young people should know of the life and work of Jane Jacobs. This book is the perfect introduction.