Remaking American Communities: A Reference Guide to Urban Sprawl (Our Sustainable Future) [Paperback]

David C. Soule (Editor), Neal Peirce (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2007 | Series: Our Sustainable Future

Urban sprawl has gained much national attention in recent years. Sprawl involves not only land-use issues but also legal, political, and social concerns. It affects our schools, the environment, and race relations. Comprehensive enough for high school students and also appropriate for college undergraduates, Remaking American Communities delves into the challenges of urban sprawl by turning to some of America's top thinkers on the problem, including Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association. Other cutting-edge essays include a foreword about the emergence of sprawl by nationally syndicated columnist Neal Peirce, views about race and class by former mayor of Albuquerque David Rusk, and a discussion of transportation dynamics by Curtis Johnson, president of the Citistates Group.

 

The essays in this collection explore the core issues of sprawl and the agenda for dealing with it. Complete with a glossary, resources, and contact information for smart-growth alliances, this book is extremely user-friendly. David C. Soule offers an unbiased viewpoint of this national phenomenon in a way that will be accessible to students and those with little background in the issue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sprawl preoccupies US planners and citizens today, and this encyclopedia offers a clear, practical handbook of history, current issues, analytic models, and policy ideas within a general smart-growth perspective. The authors of the 22 chapters include academics, attorneys, practicing planners, and policy analysts from organizations such as Collaborative Economics and the Citistates Group. . . . Recommended. All levels/libraries.”—Choice

(Choice )

“Sprawl is a national event that is an issue not just of land use but a legal, political, and social concern as well, affecting schools, the environment, and human relations. Writing primarily for high school students and undergraduates, Soule and his contributors explore the dynamics and impacts of sprawl and how localities are dealing with it.”—Reference & Research Book News

(Reference & Research Book News )

"[A]n in-depth overview of urban sprawl history, economics, dynamics, and issues. . . . College-level collections with urban studies or urban planning courses need to have this."—Midwest Book Review—California Book Watch

(Midwest Book Review -- California Book Watch )

"Complete with a glossary, resources, and contact information for smart-growth alliances, this book is extremely user-friendly."—Morgan Capilla, Compendium Newsletter

(Morgan Capilla Compendium Newsletter )

About the Author

David C. Soule is the associate director at the Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University. He is the principal advisor to the Regional Futures Institute of the National Association of Regional Councils and a member of the board of directors and former officer of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803260156
• ISBN-13: 978-0803260153
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,098,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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2.0 out of 5 stars Just read the first 2 chapters..., October 3, 2010

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This review is from: Remaking American Communities: A Reference Guide to Urban Sprawl (Our Sustainable Future) (Paperback)

I am an architecture student and read this book during my sr. year of my undergraduate and I wanted to shoot myself every time I had to even look at this book. It's a painful read and often times I found myself falling asleep. Also, I found that if you read the foreword, which is surprisingly well done, and the first 2-3 chapters, you can pretty much guess what the rest of the book is going to be about. There really is no point in reading the entire book because it pretty much repeats itself all the way throughout. The glossary on the other hand is very good and is very in-depth. So if you need a good dictionary on urban sprawl, this book is just for you. I will be keeping the book as a desk reference for its glossary, but won't be attempting any readings that aren't assigned to me... At least not without a blanket and a pillow... I recommend this book for its glossary, but wouldn't even give an assigned reading out of this book to my worst enemy...