ThirteenwritersconsiderthegroundbreakingworkofJaneJacobs,whosecritiquesofurbanrenewalinAmericaresonatetodaymorethanever.AuthorofthehugelyinfluentialDeathandLifeofGreatAmericanCities,theurbanistwriterandactivistJaneJacobs(1916-2006)neverreceivedacollegedegreenoranyformaltraininginurbanplanning,buthereightbooksandherfiercegrassrootscampaignsagainstexploitativerealestatedevelopmenthaveearnedherapermanentplaceinthehistoryofurbanstudies.Inthisanthology,13writersreflectonJacobs’pioneeringresearch,reassessingitinthecontextofcontemporaryurbanandpoliticalrealities.Followinganappraisalofherlife,thebookincludesessaysaddressingsuchtopicsasheremphasisoncitiesofrelationshipsratherthancitiesofthings;diversity,marketvalueandgentrification;Jacobsasapoliticalthinker;conceptsofurbanchange;economicunpredictabilityandthewealthofcities;theimportanceofsmallmovements;urbanismanddigitaltechnology;whatJacobscantellusaboutthefutureofcities;andmuchmore.Together,thecontributorsexploreurgentquestionsabouthowwebuildcommunitiesandcities,andhowwecanlivetogetherinthem.
