The Unheavenly City by Edward C. Banfield

"The Unheavenly City" is a sociological analysis of urban life in the United States during the mid-20th century. The book examines the problems faced by cities and their residents, including poverty, crime, and racial tensions. The author argues that these issues are largely due to cultural and behavioral differences among social classes rather than economic inequality. He suggests that long-term planning and delayed gratification, traits more common in higher social classes, lead to better outcomes than the short-term focus often seen in lower social classes. The book's controversial views sparked debates about urban policy and social inequality.

The 2584th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 141

Since this book was first published in 1970, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 141.0.

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.