If we want to preserve what's still left of the natural world, we need to stop using so much of it. And, says veteran environmental activist Matt H...
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Sep 14, 2010
Steve
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This is a really thought-provoking, well-studied book. In many ways it uses Jane Jacobs's classic urban planning study (The Death and Life of Great American Cities) as a jumping off point. It takes Jacobs's core insights into the values of urban diversity, community, and public space and re-considers them in the context of explosive urban growth. Issues like digital technology, globalization, and sustainability are clearly much bigger than they used to be, and Hern brings his own loud voice to t
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Apr 29, 2010
Elevate Difference
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First off, let me say I am not a big fan of urban planning. Even the kindly Jane Jacobs got it wrong with her advocacy of new building along side streets—infill. The condo craze that damages communities from Brooklyn, where I live, to Vancouver, the focus of Common Ground in a Liquid City, can proceed very well along side streets to gentrification and displacement. Author Matt Hern put all my defenses on alert by his proposition early on that continuing urbanization is a given and that greater u
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Apr 24, 2011
abclaret
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Matt Hern lives in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver has major endorsements like Expo 86, the Commonwealth games and as recently as 2010 the Winter Olympics and Paralympics under its belt, but on top of that with Melbourne, a business review recently granted the city has being a top example of a ‘livable city’. The darkside however is Vancouver has the lowest minimum wage, the highest rate of child poverty, chronic homelessness, the highest rents and housing costs in Canada (pg 207) and like every ot
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Oct 07, 2010
Brian
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I was really into the idea of this book, and was converted to the idea of urban density as an ecologically-sound model several years ago. Hern's book is an "investigation into how Vancouver -- and cities in general -- can imagine themselves beyond greed, shopping, capital accumulation, and vulgar self-interest. This city has every opportunity to re-imagine itself as an ethical, ecological place that nurtures a generous and vibrant citizenry that can afford to live here."
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Mar 08, 2010
Payton
rated it: 
Here's a rare sight: a thoughtful inner-city leftist who understands both New Urbanism and capitalism (and apportions the blame correctly), Vancouver and the world, direct action and policy prescriptions. A useful tool for focusing my own thoughts on density and diversity.
Mar 23, 2010
Broadsnark
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Forward thinking book and well worth a read. Hern looks at urban issues from city branding to urban agriculture to car traffic. It's focused on Vancouver, but really he could be talking about anywhere.
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