Reviews

The Culture of Cities (Book 2) by Lewis Mumford

ialja's review

3.0

Even though the writing style felt slightly outdated (and occasionally repetitive), I enjoyed the historical insights about the evolution of cities, their various institutions, and how cities fit within the wider regional context. The author takes a broad view of cities and considers the natural, social, political, and economic environment when discussing different periods and aspects of urban life. The author also expresses strong views about what the future of cities should look like, and even though the book was written in the previous century, a surprising amount of social commentary remains relevant today. I saw it as a good reminder that our current issues are not entirely new or unique. Overall, the book helped me see cities as much more than just buildings as infrastructure and challenged several historical assumptions.