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City Life
In this sweeping cultural history, the author of Home and The Most Beautiful House in the World traces the development of American cities and city life from the early colonial settlements to the new downtowns of skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings. "A fascinating investigation of what cities--especially modern cities--should be like."--Roger Starr, The Wall Stree...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
October 10th 1996
by Scribner
(first published January 1st 1995)
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I liked Rybczynski’s first book “Home” which observed how comfort, family life, privacy, efficiency (damn those Victorians) and work have shaped the idea of home.
“City Life” is an excellent overview of how Americans have evolved the modern culture of cities which remains, I think, one of our few last exports to the rest of the world.
He makes many useful observations:
•The evolving definition of city, or town or burg. The word city comes from towns that had bishopric seats, and had nothing to do...more
Rybczynski sets out with the task to create a description of what makes American cities American. He begins with a premise that there is a sort of American exceptionalism—that American cities are distinct. At the book's outset he posits that our cities are unlike the cities from which the builders of American cities came: Europe. While the author principally contrasts America to Europe, he also devotes a number of pages of exploring pre-conquest cities of Native Americans.
By “traditional” (ie:...more
By “traditional” (ie:...more
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This was a good book. It was an interesting look at the history of how cities have developed. I really appreciated the realistic look at LeCorbusier. The guy wanted to tear down half of Paris and just start over. The history of the shopping mall at the end of the book probably wasn't necessary. I understand that shopping malls have had an effect on the city, but I don't think you need to know the entire history of shopping malls to understand their effect on cities. Also, at times, the book, whi...more
Oct 12, 2008
Russ
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
City people, architects, history buffs
Recommended to Russ by:
A professor in college assigned it
How did American cities develop? Why are they the way they are, and how did they get that way? How and why are they different from European cities?
All of these questions, and others, are answered in this history of urban America. The author sprinkles personal observations into his narrative, but the bulk of the writing is academic and historical.
This book isn't as dry as one would imagine. It's fascinating to read about the layout and (brief) history of cities you know, like Chicago, and citie...more
All of these questions, and others, are answered in this history of urban America. The author sprinkles personal observations into his narrative, but the bulk of the writing is academic and historical.
This book isn't as dry as one would imagine. It's fascinating to read about the layout and (brief) history of cities you know, like Chicago, and citie...more
Some might think it's outdated because of references to 2000 as the 'future', but the concepts in general I think are applicable even now, in 2012, and beyond.
Very good read. It really put into perspective the American "city", and helps me understand a little better why I have such distaste for American suburbs, rural living and strip malls.
Very good read. It really put into perspective the American "city", and helps me understand a little better why I have such distaste for American suburbs, rural living and strip malls.
Jun 26, 2008
Jennie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
urban planning devotees who haven't actually studied urban planning yet.
I've had this on the shelf for years, and I finally got to it. Coincidentally, I had just been wondering why towns (like Champaign-Urbana, Illinois) behave so perversely, and this gave me some clues. It's a good, not-too-scholarly introduction to the evolution of the North American town/city/suburb (Canadian & U.S. at least, though not Mexican).
The only thing is, things have already changed a lot since it was published in 1995 (pbk. 1996)--little things like the Internet/telecommuting, CO2 e...more
The only thing is, things have already changed a lot since it was published in 1995 (pbk. 1996)--little things like the Internet/telecommuting, CO2 e...more
Folks interested in urban history, planning, and landscapes will enjoy this book. Rybczynski is a national treasure and deserves his own commemorative plaque!
Would definitely read this again!
witold writes about urban planning with an ease and grace that defies most writers of much simpler subjects. i picked up this gem on an overstocked table in denver and when i got home found out it was a signed copy! yay me. in addition, it's a very well-written book that nicely compares the american urban evolutionary path to the european -- but not in an overly judgemental way.
I love cities, and I love reading books that try to explain the appeal of cities. What makes a city great, how are the cities of 19th century Europe different from today's modern counterparts? It's all in this short book.
Jun 30, 2007
Anthrodiva Stommen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who don't know much about urban history
Shelves:
nonfictionforfunandprofit
Pretty much a round up of the classics, maybe it is jist dated (1995?) but there was nothing new here for me: white city, check; garden city, check; Le Corbusier is a dick, check.
Really interesting cultural history of American cities and city planning. Tries to figure out why American cities are so different from European ones. Well written, fun to read.
I swore off Rybczinski after his closing statement about the American Mall. I have since come back to read A Clearing in the Distance
Witold Rybczynski is a great historian and the best urbanist writer I've ever read.
Lynch's 3 types of cities
3 historical stages
native american origins
3 historical stages
native american origins
Why aren't American cities laid out like those in Europe?
I LOVE this book!
Apr 19, 2013
Carla
marked it as to-read
Apr 01, 2013
Melanie Miller
added it
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Witold Rybczynski was born in Edinburgh, of Polish parentage, raised in London, and attended Jesuit schools in England and Canada. He studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal, where he also taught for twenty years. He is currently the Martin and Margy Meyerson Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also co-edits the Wharton Real Estate Review. Rybczynski has...more
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