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ajkhn's review against another edition
4.0
Graham’s a brilliant and insightful mind, and he is always very easy to read. But this book seemed a bit more slapped together than Cities Under Siege – there’s a bit less coherency between chapters and it reads a bit more like a series of essays in that regard. They’re very good essays, don’t get me wrong. But the idea of a central thread connecting all of this work on the (literal) ups and downs of 21st century life don’t quite adhere in a satisfying way.
folly_problem's review against another edition
5.0
A perspective-shifting work that opens up many new ways of thinking about the spaces in which we live. This book breaks apart the old ways of seeing cities and the world, and talks about how we have to go beyond the simplicity of surfaces into understanding how we view things from above, are affected by the internal volumes of cities, and ultimately how they generate their own 'archaeosphere.'
By upending the typical axis of perception in urbanism this book helps you reconsider what you thought you knew, and what you didn't know you hadn't known. The book is clearly written, having never read a book on urbanism before I never found it tough going, beyond the wealth of details provided. The scope is impressive too, covering satellites, drone warfare, skyscapers, displaced earth, slum dwellings, military helicopters, hong kong as a megastructure and the mines which extract all that we require. If you're interested in cities, this is essential reading to my mind. If nothing else I know have many more things to look up as a result of it - my ebook is filled with highlighted passages.
By upending the typical axis of perception in urbanism this book helps you reconsider what you thought you knew, and what you didn't know you hadn't known. The book is clearly written, having never read a book on urbanism before I never found it tough going, beyond the wealth of details provided. The scope is impressive too, covering satellites, drone warfare, skyscapers, displaced earth, slum dwellings, military helicopters, hong kong as a megastructure and the mines which extract all that we require. If you're interested in cities, this is essential reading to my mind. If nothing else I know have many more things to look up as a result of it - my ebook is filled with highlighted passages.
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