The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs - Book Chat

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs was originally published in 1961. I read a 2016 Random House Vintage Edition.
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[@lexi_lexi_lexi]

Thanks for the summary! Really helpful

[@anaalbu9420]

Thank you for this video. I find it really hard to read books sometimes but this really helped me understand the contents of the book. :)

[@seriela]

Great, discussion. "Character" certainly is a thing, for me anyway and I have been fascinated by the diverse communities in all the cities I've lived in (San Juan, Chicago, New York) I've also been appalled at the endless, monotonous, sterile shopping malls that have attacked that distinctive flavor in certain areas.

[@EarnestlyEston]

After reading this book I kind of wonder how any neighborhoods or cities managed to keep a distinctive character at all :) Despite good intentions (in some cases) decisions were made sometimes decades ago that are still creating problem areas for many cities today.

[@RachelMauro2]

Great discussion! Reminds me, in part, about DCPL’s “right to the city” programming about history and change in local neighborhoods.

[@EarnestlyEston]

Thanks! I missed the "right to the city" program... do you know if it's still presented anywhere?

[@RachelMauro2]

EarnestlyEston there’s a program with a local historian on displacement, gentrification and renewal at the Anacostia branch on the 26th. I think there’s a museum exhibit there, too.

[@lilliannieswender266]

Hi Eston. This sounds like a really interesting book. The middle size city I live in doen't really fit into any of these catagories at this point in time. In fact it is rather an ugly city that grew up out of a large farming community over time. It is composed mainly of fast food places ,churches, and gas stations. The local cultural center is the local Walmarts! I understand completely the concept of degeneration you talked about because from what I hear this used to be a lovely little town a hundred years ago, but alas, capitalism has taken over in the worse sense. Thanks as usual for an interesting chat, have a good weekend.

[@EarnestlyEston]

Hi Lillian! The author claims that sadly, most American Cities have obsessed over decentralization over the 20th Century using various combinations of Garden City, Radiant City and City Beautiful thinking that I mentioned in the video. I think that trend continued well after the publication date of this book in 1961 as well. I live in an "inner suburb" of one of the "Big" Cities and I see evidence of it all around me although the trend has been over the last 10 or 15 years to be one of mixed use centralization again which has led to destructive gentrification of many areas which she also spoke of in the book (however not using the term "gentrification"). It was a fascinating read, even for a non-urban planner like myself :)

[@bluedog101c]

I just read her book, her book is brilliant and her insight on the city is magnificent.

[@EarnestlyEston]

So true, I haven’t looked at cities in the same way since reading!

[@Yesica1993]

What an interesting topic. I'm personally tired of city life. (Chicago.) But I suppose I really am just spoiled. If I lived in an area where there were not the conveniences I'm accustomed to, I'm sure it would drive me crazy. I hadn't thought of the perspective of different types of places having different needs, and what works for a big city may not work for a small town/vice versa.

[@EarnestlyEston]

The author talks mostly about New York but also mentions Chicago, specifically the "Back of the Yards" district. That neighborhood might have changed since this book was published in 1961 but she uses it as an example of a healthy City district.

[@Yesica1993]

​@@EarnestlyEston Oh, wow! I may have to check it out. I know the area & it's changed, not for the better. (Gang activity/violence.) It would be interesting to see how it was at that time.

[@pegthebookprizeaddict579]

Just saw this complimentary comment and link on Steve DONOGHUE’s channel to this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJzEnnaborB9j9k. Funny that he used the term “review” when I know you try to stay away from that word!🙋‍♀️🧶📚

[@EarnestlyEston]

Oh thanks for letting me know! How nice of him to do that :) Hope you're doing well. We need to catch up!