false 59866482 1970652 85397 1400076706 9781400076703 30 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171059794m/85397.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171059794s/85397.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85397.Dark_Age_Ahead 3.51 154 The Death and Life of Great American Cities and The Economy of Cities--convincingly argues that as agrarianism gives way to a technology-based future, we stand on the brink of a new dark age, a period of cultural collapse. Jacobs pinpoints five pillars of our culture that are in serious decay: community and family; higher education; the effective practice of science; taxation, and government; and the self-regulation of the learned professions. The corrosion of these pillars, Jacobs argues, is linked to societal ills such as environmental crisis, racism, and the growing gulf between rich and poor.

But this is a hopeful book as well as a warning. Drawing on her vast frame of reference–from fifteenth-century Chinese shipbuilding to Ireland’s cultural rebirth–Jacobs suggests how the cycles of decay can be arrested and our way of life renewed. Invigorating and accessible, Dark Age Ahead is not only the crowning achievement of Jane Jacobs’ career, but one of the most important works of our time.]]> 17285 4.17 2037 368 2004 Almost done! 0 2009-06-16T06:37:57-07:00 893634 150 2009-06-16T06:37:57-07:00 0 0 false Wed Jun 17 10:26:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 16 06:37:44 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 17 10:26:00 -0700 2009