Triumph of the City, How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier and Happier

Triumph of the City, by Edward Glaeser, [2011] happily demonstrates that the author is a big fan of cities. The city’s purpose, as he sees it, builds on Mumford’s 1961 foundational work with another half century of well-observed experience to extend and expand upon the basic conclusions. His tour of world cities provides lessons applicable to contemporary American cities of all sizes. His take is that the paramount purpose of cities is to provide venues for face-to-face interactions that lead to successful economic and social intercourse. The physical setting and interaction matters. The ideas and specific information about bigger, worldly cities presented by Mr. Glaeser translates easily into a wealth of knowledge useful to planners and economic development professionals in small cities and towns.

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