Tag Archives: cities

It’s a Sprawl World After All

Posted on April 25, 2012 by smellincoffee

It’s a Sprawl World After All: the Human Cost of Unplanned Growth — and Visions of a Better Future©  2005 Douglas E. Morris245 pages Shortly after the Second World War, the United States completely changed its approach to urbanism.  Abandoning … Continue reading →

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Asphalt Nation

Posted on February 14, 2012 by smellincoffee

Asphalt Nation: How the Automobile Took Over America and How We Can Take It Back© 1997 Jane Holtz Kay418 pages Lord, Mister Ford, I just wish you could see what your simple horseless carriage has become! It seems your contribution … Continue reading →

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The City in Mind

Posted on December 29, 2011 by smellincoffee

The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition© 2001 James Howard Kunstler272 pages The study of civilization is nothing less than the study of the culture of cities. Humanity has survived on the Earth for hundreds of thousands of … Continue reading →

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Bicycle Diaries

Posted on December 19, 2011 by smellincoffee

Bicycle Diaries© 2009 David Byrne297 pages Though I’ve never heard of the musician and visual artist David Bryne before, his recollections of time spent in some of the world’s greatest cities had my attention from the start — for he … Continue reading →

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Seven Ages of Paris

Posted on August 13, 2011 by smellincoffee

Seven Ages of Paris© 2002, 2004 Alistair Horne458 pages An entire city, built with pomp, seems to have arisen miraculously from an old ditch. – Corneille, Le Menteur, 1643 Paris is one of the most celebrated cities in the world, and … Continue reading →

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Montevallo: Images of America

Posted on June 5, 2011 by smellincoffee

Montevallo: Images of America © 2011 Clark Hultquist and Carey Heatherly 128 pages A few years ago, I became a student and resident of the University of Montevallo. I fell madly in love with the town and its university and regard them … Continue reading →

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