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tonyskyday's review
4.0
I read this on econ professor and blogger Tyler Cowen's recommendation. It's an interesting and persuasive argument for less regulation around the density and height of residential construction. It also makes the argument against parking space minimums, but not as extensively as even Yglesias's own blogging. I guess an 80-page ebook just didn't have room. One fun exercise is to read the book, then go look at the reviews and laugh at the people going on and on about a book they haven't read.
fibrebundle's review
5.0
I'm late to the party.
Easy to understand and convincing book that makes a normally complicated housing policy issue clear as air that we need less housing regulation and more multi-dewelling homes in expensive land in cities. The benefits are many and the downside is it might get a little noisy.
Easy to understand and convincing book that makes a normally complicated housing policy issue clear as air that we need less housing regulation and more multi-dewelling homes in expensive land in cities. The benefits are many and the downside is it might get a little noisy.
miocyon's review
4.0
His logic isn't always well-explained, but it tackles an interesting problem and his solutions are once I would advocate for.
mayayayayaa's review
5.0
The Rent is Too Damn High provides a clear and concise summary of the current housing situation in American cities and how we arrived at this point, Yglesias addresses everything from rent control to public transportation, environmental concerns, and gentrification, and offers a clear vision of how we can move forward on the local and federal levels. Quick and easy to consume, I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T read this.
hermansc's review
4.0
This book presents some great ideas and greatly changed the way I looked at renting/owning a house or a piece of land. The main idea: to deregulate more and let the free market decide on the rules of urbanisation is very much aligned with my political views and an idea I agree with. Further I realised that I possessed certain misconceptions such as: «The reason house and rent prices are increasing is because this is in the interest of house owners, who will by having a higher demand on houses get a better valuation of their property» - this the author argues is short sighted as more density brings with it so many advantages in the long term that the value of the _land_ will increase more.
It's a short story and it only took me an hour or so to read it, well worth it. It's heavily focused on the United States, but that's OK because the ideas presented are applicable (I think) in most larger-than mid-sized cities. It'll be one of those books you refer to when (inevitably) you'll have a discussion about _why_ the hell renting and buying housing is so expensive. Enjoy being the one with the best answer :)
Taking the rating down to a 4-star one is the intro and first few chapters of the book where the stories are more introductory and perhaps anecdotal. I can understand they establish a lot of theory and background, but for me the latter part was most enjoyable all in all.
It's a short story and it only took me an hour or so to read it, well worth it. It's heavily focused on the United States, but that's OK because the ideas presented are applicable (I think) in most larger-than mid-sized cities. It'll be one of those books you refer to when (inevitably) you'll have a discussion about _why_ the hell renting and buying housing is so expensive. Enjoy being the one with the best answer :)
Taking the rating down to a 4-star one is the intro and first few chapters of the book where the stories are more introductory and perhaps anecdotal. I can understand they establish a lot of theory and background, but for me the latter part was most enjoyable all in all.
turophile's review
3.0
Another example of what happens when you don't right the review right after reading the book.
Clocking in at less than 70 pages, this is really more of an extended essay than a book. It focuses on well intentioned public policies drive high rents and sprawl. Although there are few solutions proposed, it is a good read for both conservatives and liberals because neither comes away unscathed.
Clocking in at less than 70 pages, this is really more of an extended essay than a book. It focuses on well intentioned public policies drive high rents and sprawl. Although there are few solutions proposed, it is a good read for both conservatives and liberals because neither comes away unscathed.
andybearrn's review
4.0
Sick today so I downloaded it and had a chance to read it. It was pretty insightful. Never read something like this before.
xaviershay's review
3.0
tl;dr rent control and regulation distort the market and suppress creation of high density housing that would actually help fix rent issues. Gentrification unavoidable if you improve an area - as services, proximity to transport, etc improve then it becomes more desirable and kicks off a cycle.
Didn't get heaps out of this, but it was really short, more like an extended essay, so three stars.
Didn't get heaps out of this, but it was really short, more like an extended essay, so three stars.