The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
This book is a critique of 1950s urban planning policy, which it holds responsible for the decline of many city neighborhoods in the United States. The author argues that modernist urban planning rejects the city, because it rejects human beings living in a community characterized by layered complexity and seeming chaos. The book introduces groundbreaking ideas about how cities function, evolve and fail, providing a new perspective on the essentials of vibrant city life. The author also provides concrete examples of the unexpected consequences of urban renewal.
The 685th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 522
Since this book was first published in 1961, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 522.0.
This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.
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- score: 108 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (Weight: 108)
- score: 90 -- Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 69 -- The 50 Best Books of the Century (Weight: 69)