The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs
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recommends it for:
People who spend a lot of time thinking about where and how they live. Also, my friend Andrew.
It's an odd confluence of events that I was reading this very concrete, thoughtful book about the ways Americans experience and use cities -- well, environments in general, but urban environments in particular -- at the same time that I was reading Italo Calvino's dreamy Invisible Cities.
I can't remember if someone told me about Jane Jacobs or if I read something somewhere ... but I remember being fascinated by the premise of the author, more than the book. A layperson -- a completely...more
I can't remember if someone told me about Jane Jacobs or if I read something somewhere ... but I remember being fascinated by the premise of the author, more than the book. A layperson -- a completely...more
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Read in December, 2007
The four principles of city diversity Jacobs proposed (pp. 196-7) are:
1. "The district, an indeed as many of its internal parts as possible, must serve more than one primary function; preferably more than two. These must insure the presence of people who go outdoors on different schedules and are in the place for different purposes, but who are able to use many facilities in common."
2. "Most blocks must be short; that is, streets and opportunities to turn corners must be fre...more
1. "The district, an indeed as many of its internal parts as possible, must serve more than one primary function; preferably more than two. These must insure the presence of people who go outdoors on different schedules and are in the place for different purposes, but who are able to use many facilities in common."
2. "Most blocks must be short; that is, streets and opportunities to turn corners must be fre...more
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Read in May, 2007
This classic of urban studies/planning is a response to the widespread influence of what Jane Jacobs calls the "orthodox" schools of urban planning--meaning the City Beautiful/Radiant City/Garden City movements. Jacobs argues that these are utopian, elitist, and paternalistic movements. Not only do they fail to solve problems of poverty and low standards of living in cities, but Jacobs argues that they actually exaccerbate these issues. Rather than impersonal and isolated buildings,...more
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Read in March, 2008
I reckon I see what all the fuss is about. Jacobs makes a compelling argument based upon observations the reader may reproduce just by living in any 'Great American City'. Her well-reasoned and anectdotally illustrated explanations of the necessity for primary mixed uses, small blocks, aged buildings, high concentration, etc, seem a good foundation for a functional model of human-scale urbanism. Furthermore, the overall concept with which she closes her book, that of cities as a problem in or...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Peope who live in cities
I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to think about what it means to live in a city. Jacobs does a fine job of building theory from observation and manages to write and argue in such a way that the argument really does build inductively. You never feel theory or conclusion being imposed on the material.
The first section of the book is probably the most interesting. If you want to find out what made Jacobs such a landmark name in urban planning, you should at least read...more
The first section of the book is probably the most interesting. If you want to find out what made Jacobs such a landmark name in urban planning, you should at least read...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Urban planners, community & economic developers
I know, I know. Most everyone I've talked to and observed here love this book. I appreciate the idea of Jane Jacobs and her passion for healthy communities. Her personal story is quite impressive. I agree that the concepts and ideas she put forth are essential and spot on, even today. I found myself having those "Well, duh!" moments when something so simple makes so much sense and wondered why we do sometimes over-complicate things. She was certainly ahead of her time.
Given t...more
Given t...more
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Read in January, 2008
This book is dense, long, and uses a horrible typeface that's hard to read. It took me a while to get through, but it was definitely worth it. A lot of it is a response to all the god-awful redevelopments of cities that was occuring in the 50s, and looking at more creative ways to ensure cities are places people want to live. Sometimes the author comes off as shrill and school-marmish, which gets tiring, but she's an incredible thinker - the main tenants of modern urban planning are all here, ma...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
Urbanites
Perhaps there is no other tome more quintessential on the subject of urban planning than this volume by Jane Jacobs.
At times a bit scholarly, I forced my way past the less interesting parts (the stuff above my head) to soak up the wisdom that Jane Jacobs imparted in this book. Her insight and observations into how the city functions and how every aspect of the city relates to each other is stunningly brilliant. Her concept of "Eyes on the street" is enormously important to creatin...more
At times a bit scholarly, I forced my way past the less interesting parts (the stuff above my head) to soak up the wisdom that Jane Jacobs imparted in this book. Her insight and observations into how the city functions and how every aspect of the city relates to each other is stunningly brilliant. Her concept of "Eyes on the street" is enormously important to creatin...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
People interested in the preservation of walkable communities
I recommended the Modern Library Series printing because it has a really nice forward that gives an uninitiated Jacobs reader some background as to why she's so amazing.
Back in 1961 when Jacobs first wrote this book, she was already a wipsmart critic of architecture in big bad NYC. She was a pioneer of urban diversity and humanistic management of cities. Even though Death and Life is over 30 years old, it is still so relevant to our rapidly expanding urban communities. I think it's especial...more
Back in 1961 when Jacobs first wrote this book, she was already a wipsmart critic of architecture in big bad NYC. She was a pioneer of urban diversity and humanistic management of cities. Even though Death and Life is over 30 years old, it is still so relevant to our rapidly expanding urban communities. I think it's especial...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
urban theorists
I enjoyed this book. Epscially considering that I read it straing after Le Corb. Jane Jacobs makes some common sensical points very well. Much of what she says simply makes sense. But perhaps this is its possilbe weakness. To say something is so because it is common sense is possibly not the best reason to justify planning/ or doing anything really because it is not backed up with evidence (well evidence that would stand up to academic deconstruction). But saying that - this book is not meant to...more
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Read in October, 2007
She makes some really interesting and relevant points, despite how dated some of the examples might be (does it really matter whether it's a current example? I guess not, I just wish I could get some sense of closure by hearing an update to how these neighborhoods have progressed in the past fifty years).
I liked that it made me think about what actually works for /practical/ purposes.
I guess now I can stop scowling at the guys who congregate on the corner of the park every night &quo...more
I liked that it made me think about what actually works for /practical/ purposes.
I guess now I can stop scowling at the guys who congregate on the corner of the park every night &quo...more
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Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who lives in or cares about life in major cities
Very well-written and thorough; it's amazing how little has changed in the discourse of urban structure in nearly fifty years.
Jacobs' argument is extremely thorough. Her ideas seem quaint and idealistic on the surface, but she backs up her theories with detailed logic. While she might not have the hard statistics to illustrate every point, she uses a more comprehensive argument to show the way that planners of the time (mid-20th century) misinterpret the hard data anyway. The final few c...more
Jacobs' argument is extremely thorough. Her ideas seem quaint and idealistic on the surface, but she backs up her theories with detailed logic. While she might not have the hard statistics to illustrate every point, she uses a more comprehensive argument to show the way that planners of the time (mid-20th century) misinterpret the hard data anyway. The final few c...more
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Read in January, 2004
This book about urban and city design is THE book about how to make livable, sustainable and healthy cities & communities. It details current examples of good and bad civic design, and the historical development of cities is very thorough.
I enjoyed this book very much as the topic is very relevant and explains a lot about how our streetscapes influences our civic experience. However, the author's writing style is somewhat laborious to plow through with a very long sentence structure and la...more
I enjoyed this book very much as the topic is very relevant and explains a lot about how our streetscapes influences our civic experience. However, the author's writing style is somewhat laborious to plow through with a very long sentence structure and la...more
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Read in August, 2007
Slows down in parts, but overall solid. Didn't change the way I see my built environment in the same way some other things have, but I know that those thing wouldn't have done that if this hadn't come first... if that makes sense. It did make me more aware of the way people actually interact with the built environment, which was new. Usually it's more thinking about the way inanimate or abstract things relate when I start getting into urbanism and urban planning things -- public/private space, t...more
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Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
those fighting for place, you goddamn New Urbanists who miss the point
I know that if I had met Jane Jacobs, I would have liked her. I know this from reading this book, and meeting a peppery but professorial woman within it-who draws her line firmly in the dirt.
I was dazzled by this book when I found it years ago; it crystalized the arguments I stumbled for to explain what I liked about different places, and didn't like about others, and told me I was right to value the cityscape and my neighbors.
So much of what Jacobs brought to the fight is at play in my ho...more
I was dazzled by this book when I found it years ago; it crystalized the arguments I stumbled for to explain what I liked about different places, and didn't like about others, and told me I was right to value the cityscape and my neighbors.
So much of what Jacobs brought to the fight is at play in my ho...more
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
Urban studies students
Part of my kick on city planning/urban studies. Lots of anecdotes about how a community is formed inside cities; draws for major metropolitan areas around the U.S.
[Addendum: And six months later, I am finished with this 500 page tome. It is chock full of insights, relevant observations, and useful concepts -- all of which are necessary for a city dweller who loves cities. Because of its density, don't be surprised if it takes a while to read, but the return is greater than the investment. ...more
[Addendum: And six months later, I am finished with this 500 page tome. It is chock full of insights, relevant observations, and useful concepts -- all of which are necessary for a city dweller who loves cities. Because of its density, don't be surprised if it takes a while to read, but the return is greater than the investment. ...more
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Read in March, 2007
It's not that I don't think that community development and neighbourhood planning should take into consideration raising a child; just, maybe not quite this in-depth, especially not from someone who's not a parent. Also, being nostalgic for a previous form of community, no matter how quaint, is not going to bring it back in a place like Los Angeles. of course, I didn't get all that far in, because something about her whole -- worldview, I think -- made me want to just throw the book out. So. A...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
urban planners, aesthetes
Jacobs put forth a beautiful theory in 1961 that cities, in order to thrive, must be diverse and must be allowed to grow. Interestingly, 50 years later, most of her ideas as to how to facilitate this, have proved true. She acknowledges the importance of vertical as opposed to horizontal development, the power of street gangs in determining cities' strength, and economically justifies the preservation of old buildings instead of simply erecting homogenous new ones. There are holes in her theory, ...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
urban dwellers
Ever wondered about city design? I did, since St. Louis is set up like an archery target- the middle of the city is almost impossible to get right, and so most people are at the fringes. This book illustrates how crime, sidewalks, etc. all factor into a city's equation. The book even details the failure of a nearby housing project, the Pruitt-Igoe. It made me think about where I grew up, and how detrimental it is to live so far away from where you work and play. The only thing I didn't enjo...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in February, 2007
Very interesting book about the organic nature of urban landscape, design and sociology. Jane Jacobs does base a lot of her assumptions on city's with the resources and size of NY so that does take a little bit away from some of her arguments.
At the end of the day Jane Jacobs is one of the first people who called for what is all the rage in city planning today (especially in New Orleans): Mixed-Use, Short city blocks, resisting large public works, diversity of economy through different siz...more
At the end of the day Jane Jacobs is one of the first people who called for what is all the rage in city planning today (especially in New Orleans): Mixed-Use, Short city blocks, resisting large public works, diversity of economy through different siz...more
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