Book review: The City of Today is a Dying Thing, by Des Fitzgerald

“This book, I should say at the outset, is against green cities.”

That’s the contrarian premise of The City of Today is a Dying Thing, from Irish sociologist Des Fitzgerald. You don’t need me to tell you how counter-cultural that is. Visions of greener cities are ubiquitous, from simple plans for more street trees to Saudi Arabia’s grandiose desert follies. I am myself very much in favour of greener cities – sorry Mr Fitzgerald – but I nevertheless rather enjoyed the book.

Why? Firs...