The Good City: Reflections and Imaginations

Cities, Jacobs contends, ought to be magnificent, beautiful places to live. They should be places where people can be fulfilled, where they can be what they can be, where there is freedom, love, ideas, excitement, quiet and joy. Cities ought to be the ultimate manifestation of society's collective achievements.Allan B. Jacobs is one of the world's best known planners and urban design practitioners, with a long and distinguished international career. Drawing on his professional experience of almost 60 years, Jacobs guides the reader through the lessons he's learnt as a planner and lover of cities.Starting from a childhood in Cleveland where he learnt to explore and enjoy the city, Jacobs takes us through the development of his fascination with the urban environment. Throughout his career, Jacobs has worked in India, Brazil, Italy, Japan and China as well as many of the US's greatest cities. Essays, fiction and case studies from these locations convey to the reader a wealth of knowledge which can only be gained through passionate experience.Featuring a wonderfully engaging, humorous tone and Jacobs' own ink drawings, The Good City transfers lessons on city design, building and urban change to all those willing to help cities become the magnificent, beautiful places they should be - and encourages all inhabitants to learn to appreciate and explore their own cities.