- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd; illustrated edition edition (26 Aug 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0434009628
- ISBN-13: 978-0434009626
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,012,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
This work is an exploration of the nature of the city from its beginnings to contemporary Cairo, the largest city the world has known. "Cities" explores the city's "raison d'etre", functions and forms, its achievements and problems, from fortifications to sewers, factories to markets, theatres and bars.From the ruins of the earliest cities to the 21s t century, the book explores how cities develop and thrive, how they decline and die, how they remake themselves. It investigates their parasitic relationship with the country around them, the webs of trade and immigration they inhabit, how they feed and water themselves and dispose of their wastes.
From the Publisher
A magisterial exploration of the nature of the city from its beginnings to contemporary Cairo, the largest city the world has known.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While this book is about the city and its role in history, if you want a deeply historical account you may be a little disappointed, as this book is firmly rooted in the present day.
It works chronologically, going from ancient cities of Egypt and Roman times up to present day London and New York, but the present day city is really the guidiing light behind the book, which is in no way a bad thing. Despite the fairly heavy subject, the book reads well (which isn't always the case with historical tomes) and provides a good balance between catering to the layman and the more knowledgable reader.
I found the parts about the 12th to 16th centuries most enlightening, as the author looked at the rise of notes of exchange in Italy and the problems that arose from the choice of Madrid as the capital of Spain.
For any lovers of Rabelais out there, you won't be disappointed in how much attention is paid to human waste in this book, and the author's coverage of the development of sewage disposal is frankly gripping. Bizarre as that might sound, it sheds a lot of light on the general trends behind the development as the city of a whole, and the trial and error procedures that have lead to many of its most successful developments.
The book ends with a nod to the future and a note on global warming, and as such it contains within its 300 pages something about every era of the city, which is no mean feat, and as a result of this book I'm now buying books about the periods in it that interested me the most, which in its way is more than a recommendation for any book.
It works chronologically, going from ancient cities of Egypt and Roman times up to present day London and New York, but the present day city is really the guidiing light behind the book, which is in no way a bad thing. Despite the fairly heavy subject, the book reads well (which isn't always the case with historical tomes) and provides a good balance between catering to the layman and the more knowledgable reader.
I found the parts about the 12th to 16th centuries most enlightening, as the author looked at the rise of notes of exchange in Italy and the problems that arose from the choice of Madrid as the capital of Spain.
For any lovers of Rabelais out there, you won't be disappointed in how much attention is paid to human waste in this book, and the author's coverage of the development of sewage disposal is frankly gripping. Bizarre as that might sound, it sheds a lot of light on the general trends behind the development as the city of a whole, and the trial and error procedures that have lead to many of its most successful developments.
The book ends with a nod to the future and a note on global warming, and as such it contains within its 300 pages something about every era of the city, which is no mean feat, and as a result of this book I'm now buying books about the periods in it that interested me the most, which in its way is more than a recommendation for any book.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Reader takes us on a historical trip through the city starting in Mesopotamia 6,000 years ago and finishing at the present day taking a quick view at the usual suspects, London, Rome, Venice, New York and a few others. I agree with the author that this book is needed as the city is 'the defining artifact of civilisation', and by 2030 two thirds of us will be living in one. So the concept of the book is clear, better understand the city, how it works and how they differ and you will better understand civilisations and the forces at work in cities that even shape the outcome of wars and empires themselves. In answering the problems of the city we may be able to solve some of the environmental issues that face humanity now. Its optimistic and upbeat and demonstrates a love for the city,command of the subject and is full of interesting facts. Its pulled together very well too, and is eminently readable which is no small advantage. While perhaps the conclusion could draw from the whole book more clearly it is an excellent book and should be on every ones 'city reader' list.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A lively, engaging, and vigorous revelation of just how cities evolved
8 Feb 2006
Format:Hardcover
With a subject as broad and diverse in its scope, and is as potentially weighty as humanities' urban complexes, one would think a book of the same name would cover over 500 pages and be detrimental to simple leisure browsing -- not so: Cities is a lively, engaging, and vigorous revelation of just how cities evolved, what made them thrive or decline, and how they transformed themselves to cultural centers over the centuries. Contrary to popular belief, cities actually fostered the growth of farming and hold a symbiotic and close relationship with the countryside and trade routes: John Reader's Cities provides a map of changes and the social, political and economic connections between cities and country around the world. The lively format the author John Reader created for Cities makes for an exceptional historical coverage which lends particularly well to leisure reading.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
And the point is?
6 Jan 2007
Format:Hardcover
This book seems to be getting good reviews, and to be honest I am not completely sure why. Let me begin with the good. It is an easy read and the story told is interesting. However this is not particularly a history and there are parts of the book that left me wondering what the point was. On the positive side, Mr. Reader begins the book with a particularly fascinating account of early cities beginning in Turkey and going to Sumaria.
From here though he gets lost. He devotes very little time to Greece and Rome and then seems to gloss through history. Some of what he relates, while interesting sheds little light on cities or their development. His chapter on Francesco deMarco Datini comes to mind first. It is an interesting story and I am sure he has something to do with the development of cities or lives in them, but I was left unsure what. Much could be told about the rise of Renaissance Italy and its city-states such as Florence, Venice, Genoa, and Milan. But little is offered.
Then there is his attempt to make political points. Sometimes it is pro-free market, sometimes pro-environment, sometimes it seems he is off to fight a battle against poverty that while maybe worthy, seems out of context. In fact at the end of many chapters he tries to bring in a modern point all too often. For example there is a chapter on the plague. It is interesting, but he never really explains how it was defeated in Europe. Instead we get some point on doctors and hospitals that seems to be a call for medical reform of some type. There is also a chapter on Hiroshima, which begins well enough and promises to hold interest. Questions like how did people live there after the bomb or how was the city rebuilt pop into my mind. From there he goes into a discussion of solar energy. What is the connection? What do we learn about the city in general or Hiroshima in specific?
In short, this book wanders so much in such a short space I would give it only 1 star, but the stories, even though off-topic are interesting so I give this book three stars but suggest anybody really trying to learn history start somewhere else like say Alexandra Ritchie's book on Berlin.
From here though he gets lost. He devotes very little time to Greece and Rome and then seems to gloss through history. Some of what he relates, while interesting sheds little light on cities or their development. His chapter on Francesco deMarco Datini comes to mind first. It is an interesting story and I am sure he has something to do with the development of cities or lives in them, but I was left unsure what. Much could be told about the rise of Renaissance Italy and its city-states such as Florence, Venice, Genoa, and Milan. But little is offered.
Then there is his attempt to make political points. Sometimes it is pro-free market, sometimes pro-environment, sometimes it seems he is off to fight a battle against poverty that while maybe worthy, seems out of context. In fact at the end of many chapters he tries to bring in a modern point all too often. For example there is a chapter on the plague. It is interesting, but he never really explains how it was defeated in Europe. Instead we get some point on doctors and hospitals that seems to be a call for medical reform of some type. There is also a chapter on Hiroshima, which begins well enough and promises to hold interest. Questions like how did people live there after the bomb or how was the city rebuilt pop into my mind. From there he goes into a discussion of solar energy. What is the connection? What do we learn about the city in general or Hiroshima in specific?
In short, this book wanders so much in such a short space I would give it only 1 star, but the stories, even though off-topic are interesting so I give this book three stars but suggest anybody really trying to learn history start somewhere else like say Alexandra Ritchie's book on Berlin.
Amazing
24 May 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the historical development of cities. It's was such an enjoyable read - I wish all texts could be this much fun.
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