The Blackwell City Reader (Blackwell Readers in Geography) - Hardcover

"The sheer range of city voices in this Reader means that it is both authoritative and at the same time sympathetic to diversity. An indispensable guide to where it's at in the modern city." Nigel Thrift, University of Bristol "This is an outstanding collection. With editorial flair it brings together the most important commentaries on urban life from a wide range of disciplines. It contains some of the best and most insightful writing on the city to date. As such this book transcends the limits of academic endeavour and becomes a cultural intervention in its own right." Angela McRobbie, Goldsmith's College, University of London The Blackwell City Reader is an excellent volume, with a generous, innovative and imaginative selection of texts. Overall, the Blackwell City Reader is more than the sum of its parts, providing powerful and diverse glances at where city (and urban geography) is going." International Journal of Enviromental Studies "Arguably the most striking feature of this collection is the interdisciplinary nature of the writings, highlighting a changing approach to urban research which realizes that a rich analysis of the city can no longer be divided into traditional disciplines......Together the two books offer a stimulating collection of readings that will be widely consulted by sociologists, geographers and anyone concerned with the contemporary developments of urban life, and should not be missed by those interested in urban studies." Progress in Human Geography

Cities are firmly back on the agenda. This Reader brings together work by prestigious academics, literary figures, and other intellectuals, which challenges established ways of thinking about urban life. Looking towards the future of urban studies, the editors have selected both canonical texts and those that will surprise and intrigue the reader. They have organized the material in a manner that breaks down conventional categories and boundaries while still covering the field comprehensively. An overall introduction and focused introductions to each section help to develop a new framework for interpreting cities. The volume is interdisciplinary, including pieces not only from the field of urban studies, but also from literature, cultural studies, philosophy, gender studies, design, and planning. Its approach is global, with nonwestern and Western cities, colonial and postcolonial cities, and megacities all represented. While it can be used alone, the Reader has been designed to accompany A Companion to the City (Blackwell Publishing, 2000), which is comprised of specially commissioned pieces organized within the same framework by Bridge and Watson.