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The Death and Life of Great American Cities
- 50th Anniversary Edition
- Narrated by: Donna Rawlins
- Length: 18 hrs
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Publisher's summary
Thirty years after its publication, The Death and Life of Great American Cities was described by The New York Times as "perhaps the most influential single work in the history of town planning....[It] can also be seen in a much larger context. It is first of all a work of literature; the descriptions of street life as a kind of ballet and the bitingly satiric account of traditional planning theory can still be read for pleasure even by those who long ago absorbed and appropriated the book's arguments."
Jane Jacobs, an editor and writer on architecture in New York City in the early 60s, argued that urban diversity and vitality were being destroyed by powerful architects and city planners. Rigorous, sane, and delightfully epigrammatic, Jacobs's small masterpiece is a blueprint for the humanistic management of cities. It is sensible, knowledgeable, readable, indispensable.
The author has written a new foreword for this Modern Library edition.
Critic reviews
1961, Sidney Hillman Prize, Winner
"One of the most remarkable books ever written about the city... a primary work. The research apparatus is not pretentious - it is the eye and the heart - but it has given us a magnificent study of what gives life and spirit to the city." (William H. Whyte, author of The Organization Man)
"The most refreshing, provacative, stimulating and exciting study of this [great problem] which I have seen. It fairly crackles with bright honesty and common sense." (Harrison Salisbury, The New York Times)
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What listeners say about The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Meghan
- 02-13-15
Fantastic text, dull on audio
This text is foundational on the subject and I can't speak negatively about it, but it is difficult to listen to for the duration simply because it's so academic.
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11 people found this helpful
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- Marie
- 11-13-14
Still good for thought
I attempted to read the dead tree version of this book and did not get far. I appreciate the narrator because it seemed a bit more accessible in an audible format. I will listen to it again but with a dead tree version close at hand because there are ideas that Jacobs mentions that I'd like to spend a bit more time thinking about before rolling on to the next thought.
I've read urban planning commentary that quotes or refers to this Jacobs book as if it were the Bible. Listening to it for myself, I wonder if this is the same author people bring up when they talk about historic preservation, because I got a completely different sense of what she was saying, which is why I need a paper version as well.
Another commenter mentioned the book is dated. Yes, it is, but is informative regarding big cities and the motivations of city administrators and politicians in regards to federal funds and the motivation to big build stupid projects that do nothing for the citizen on the ground. That is still going on, even though those same city administrators may claim a love for Jacob's ideas.
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8 people found this helpful
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- deborah
- 11-17-11
Dated But Relevant
A must read for the history of urban life and how important it is to think of cities like a living organism, in need of understanding on a deeper level, and in need of sustenance from within and above. Also provides a road map of local political action in confronting governmental mistakes and powerful people. Gives great power to the working poor. Written in the early 1960s about a New York City urban life that no longer exists, it still rings true for older listeners who remember such a time.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Kristina O’Donnell
- 02-03-16
Robotic voice narration
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
A different narrator
What did you like best about this story?
The actual story
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Donna Rawlins?
Someone less robotic (I think this narrator must be the person they hire for voice programming making her voice associated with Siri-esque narration)
What character would you cut from The Death and Life of Great American Cities?
N/A
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5 people found this helpful
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- Bjarte
- 12-07-12
An important book for architects!
Would you consider the audio edition of The Death and Life of Great American Cities to be better than the print version?
A thoroughly written book with deep insight into city planning, development, mixed use, the importance of diversity and urbanism in general. Jane Jacobs will stand out as a pillar and a strong reminder of what's still going on today, only that the scale of things have now, gone totally out of whack. The dynamics of people and economical forces (high or low) will be the same as long as the industrial world operate with the same systems as today. The reader for this audiobook could have been a little more vivid in expression and melody, but the diction is flawless.
"a must hear"
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5 people found this helpful
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- Michael Maloy
- 03-22-19
Jane Jacobs Never Disappoints
This was my fifth reading of "Death and Life," and I continue to be amazed by the quality of Jane Jacobs's writing, research, and relevancy. Jane is simply brilliant! Donna Rawlins's narration is admirable and enjoyable to listen to. However, there are several mispronounced words that are quite surprising and rather disappointing, especially for a work of such importance. For example, the correct reading is "land uses"—comprised of two words—not "landuses" with an emphasis on the "d." There are no “deuces” in this book. Also, why does Ms. Rawlins pronounce the word “renaissance” with an emphasis on a long vowel "a"? As far as I know, no English speaking nation or region pronounces the word in this manner. These simple errors are beneath the author, the narrator, and the producer, and I highly encourage the publisher to correct these errors in a future edition (and soon).
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3 people found this helpful
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- abdelrahmanazmi
- 08-27-18
Vital Book
A must-to-read book for any architect or urban planner. Theory is deep and language's a bit hard. Need to read it many time. It worths it.
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- Michael
- 07-03-18
New light for understanding cities!
I learned about this book in "Scale" by Geoffrey West. Jane Jacob's classic lived up to West's high regard for her systems thinking about cities. Her book changed the way I look at a city.. Although it discusses situations from 70 years ago, the perspectives seem fresh and relevant now. If you're on a path to learn how cities function, this book adds fresh rays of light for understanding what is actually going on.
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- bennehoff
- 05-17-19
A Great Classic on Cities and Planning
Everyone with even a passing interests in cities and how they function should check out this classic text by Jane Jacobs.
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- Mark Mckittrick
- 02-12-19
Amazing! Insightful and interesting.
The first few chapters on the phenomenon of cities and the final chapter are brilliant. Her policy prescriptions in the second half of the book are slightly dated given this book was written more than half a century ago. Jane's detailed description of this organized, complex adaptive system are beautiful.
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- Jodie
- 05-23-22
Conflicted
I respect this text for the fresh perspective that it was at the time. The excellent points this book makes about people being the special ingredient to baking good communities is so simple but is still even today so often missed by policy makers. Building communities around its people is critical to connecting people but…. I do have a few criticisms.
Jane was clearly very angry at the local leadership and the capitalists who were looking to pull down her community. I love that she came out fighting, inspirational! However, in doing so her argument dismisses good arguments made by the disciples of garden cities and fails to address housing shortage as an issue. The cities building plans are driven by need, need for new roads, homes etc and Jane offers no solution. Protect the existing communities by all means, build strong communities-yes but it’s not enough to say I have my little piece of geography and tough for everyone else. Local government has the challenging role of providing for all and sadly that sometimes comes at a cost. As a consultant, policy maker who often works for local government I have taken a housing application from the back Of someone’s car where they live with their children, Ive dealt with community safety and I’ve led large scale regeneration programmes when there are always those who will be against it no matter what. I suppose I’m seeing problems first hand in a growing population and this book offered few answers. Thankfully Jane won this one but the community she fought so hard to protect gentrified anyway and is ironically one of the most affluent areas which is unattainable for low to middle income earners. No doubt it’s a place people want to be which has driven property prices up -successful by someone’s measure. The success of communities is so subjective and it makes me wonder how successful Jane would think her community is now.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-07-19
The experience should be revised same as the text
The narration is too boring. Too much text, could be told everything in fewer words. The concept is great in some points. Shouldn't the examples from 60s to be revised?
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Overall
-
Performance
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Story
Jeff Speck has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. The very idea of a modern metropolis evokes visions of bustling sidewalks, vital mass transit, and a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban core. But in the typical American city, the car is still king, and downtown is a place that’s easy to drive to but often not worth arriving at. Making walkability happen is relatively easy and cheap; seeing exactly what needs to be done is the trick.
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Interesting topic and thoughtful insight, subpar recording.
- By Andrew Nicks on 05-12-18
By: Jeff Speck
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Cities and the Wealth of Nations
- Principles of Economic Life
- By: Jane Jacobs
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In this eye-opening work of economic theory, Jane Jacobs argues that it is cities—not nations—that are the drivers of wealth. Challenging centuries of economic orthodoxy, in Cities and the Wealth of Nations the beloved author contends that healthy cities are constantly evolving to replace imported goods with locally produced alternatives, spurring a cycle of vibrant economic growth. Intelligently argued and drawing on examples from around the world and across the ages, here Jacobs radically changes the way we view our cities—and our entire economy.
By: Jane Jacobs
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Happy City
- Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design
- By: Charles Montgomery
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city. Dense urban living has been prescribed as a panacea for the environmental and resource crises of our time. But is it better or worse for our happiness? Are subways, sidewalks, and tower dwelling improvements on the car dependence of sprawl?
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Great book-terrible narrator
- By Amazon Customer on 02-04-19
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Walkable City Rules
- 101 Steps to Making Better Places
- By: Jeff Speck
- Narrated by: Jeff Speck
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Nearly every US city would like to be more walkable - for reasons of health, wealth, and the environment - yet few are taking the proper steps to get there. The goals are often clear, but the path is seldom easy. Jeff Speck’s follow-up to his best-selling Walkable City is the resource that cities and citizens need to usher in an era of renewed street life. Walkable City Rules is a doer’s guide to making change in cities, and making it now.
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Excellent compendium for pro and enthusiast alike
- By Ostyn on 02-23-19
By: Jeff Speck
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The 99% Invisible City
- A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
- By: Kurt Kohlstedt, Roman Mars
- Narrated by: Roman Mars
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.
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The 99% Invisible City
- By Louise Schraa on 01-09-21
By: Kurt Kohlstedt, and others
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The Economy of Cities
- By: Jane Jacobs
- Narrated by: Rachel Fulginiti
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In this book, Jane Jacobs, building on the work of her debut, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, investigates the delicate way cities balance the interplay between the domestic production of goods and the ever-changing tide of imports. Using case studies of developing cities in the ancient, pre-agricultural world, and contemporary cities on the decline, like the financially irresponsible New York City of the mid-sixties, Jacobs identifies the main drivers of urban prosperity and growth, often via counterintuitive and revelatory lessons.
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Superb…and prescient!
- By David P. Wingert on 04-14-23
By: Jane Jacobs
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Walkable City
- How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time
- By: Jeff Speck
- Narrated by: Jeff Speck
- Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Jeff Speck has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. The very idea of a modern metropolis evokes visions of bustling sidewalks, vital mass transit, and a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban core. But in the typical American city, the car is still king, and downtown is a place that’s easy to drive to but often not worth arriving at. Making walkability happen is relatively easy and cheap; seeing exactly what needs to be done is the trick.
-
-
Interesting topic and thoughtful insight, subpar recording.
- By Andrew Nicks on 05-12-18
By: Jeff Speck
-
Cities and the Wealth of Nations
- Principles of Economic Life
- By: Jane Jacobs
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this eye-opening work of economic theory, Jane Jacobs argues that it is cities—not nations—that are the drivers of wealth. Challenging centuries of economic orthodoxy, in Cities and the Wealth of Nations the beloved author contends that healthy cities are constantly evolving to replace imported goods with locally produced alternatives, spurring a cycle of vibrant economic growth. Intelligently argued and drawing on examples from around the world and across the ages, here Jacobs radically changes the way we view our cities—and our entire economy.
By: Jane Jacobs
-
Happy City
- Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design
- By: Charles Montgomery
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city. Dense urban living has been prescribed as a panacea for the environmental and resource crises of our time. But is it better or worse for our happiness? Are subways, sidewalks, and tower dwelling improvements on the car dependence of sprawl?
-
-
Great book-terrible narrator
- By Amazon Customer on 02-04-19
-
Walkable City Rules
- 101 Steps to Making Better Places
- By: Jeff Speck
- Narrated by: Jeff Speck
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nearly every US city would like to be more walkable - for reasons of health, wealth, and the environment - yet few are taking the proper steps to get there. The goals are often clear, but the path is seldom easy. Jeff Speck’s follow-up to his best-selling Walkable City is the resource that cities and citizens need to usher in an era of renewed street life. Walkable City Rules is a doer’s guide to making change in cities, and making it now.
-
-
Excellent compendium for pro and enthusiast alike
- By Ostyn on 02-23-19
By: Jeff Speck
-
The 99% Invisible City
- A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
- By: Kurt Kohlstedt, Roman Mars
- Narrated by: Roman Mars
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.
-
-
The 99% Invisible City
- By Louise Schraa on 01-09-21
By: Kurt Kohlstedt, and others
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Out of Architecture
- The Value of Architects Beyond Traditional Practice
- By: Jake Rudin, Erin Pellegrino
- Narrated by: Jake Rudin
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Out of Architecture is both a call to reassess the architecture profession and its education, and a toolkit for graduates and working architects to untangle their skills, passions, and value from traditional architectural practice and consider alternate pathways. Written by design professionals and expert career consultants, this book is informed by numerous client accounts as well as the authors' own stories and routes out of architecture.
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Much needed in the industry
- By Zach Morgan on 05-07-23
By: Jake Rudin, and others
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A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
- Center for Environmental Structure Series
- By: Christopher Alexander
- Narrated by: Mike Fraser
- Length: 29 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
You can use this book to design a house for yourself with your family; you can use it to work with your neighbors to improve your town and neighborhood; you can use it to design an office, a workshop, or a public building. And you can use it to guide you in the actual process of construction.
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Comprehensive overview of building for living.
- By chakra on 05-14-22
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Confessions of a Recovering Engineer
- Transportation for a Strong Town
- By: Charles L. Marohn Jr.
- Narrated by: Christopher Douyard
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story