Essential Urban Planning Books: Must-Reads for Every Planner

Essential Urban Planning Books: Must-Reads for Every Planner

Here’s a list of highly recommended books for urban planners, covering theory, history, design, and contemporary issues:

Urban Planning Theory & History

• "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs
  A seminal critique of urban renewal policies and a call for human-centered city design.
• "Cities of Tomorrow" by Peter Hall
  A comprehensive history of urban planning ideas and their impacts on modern cities.
• "The Power Broker" by Robert A. Caro
  A deep dive into the life of Robert Moses, highlighting the interplay of power, urban design, and politics.
• "Suburban Nation" by Andrés Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck
  A manifesto for New Urbanism and critique of sprawl.

Design and Livability

• "The Image of the City" by Kevin Lynch
  Introduces the concept of mental mapping and how people perceive urban environments.
• "Walkable City" by Jeff Speck
  A guide to making cities more pedestrian-friendly.
• "A Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander
  Explores timeless principles for creating human-scale environments.

Environmental and Social Focus

• "The Geography of Nowhere" by James Howard Kunstler
  A critical look at sprawl and car-dependent landscapes in the U.S.
• "Happy City" by Charles Montgomery
  Investigates how urban design can influence happiness and well-being.
• "Planet of Slums" by Mike Davis
  Explores the rise of informal settlements and their social implications.

Data and Modern Planning

• "Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for a New Utopia" by Anthony M. Townsend
  Examines the role of technology and data in urban innovation.
• "The New Urban Crisis" by Richard Florida
  Analyzes the challenges of gentrification and economic inequality in cities today.

Global Perspectives

• "Triumph of the City" by Edward Glaeser
  A defense of urbanization as a driver of innovation and prosperity.
• "Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change" by Peter Calthorpe
  Discusses sustainable planning practices to address the climate crisis.
• "How to Kill a City" by Peter Moskowitz
  A critical exploration of gentrification and its effects on communities.

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