National Book Award Non Fiction Winner

The City in History

by Lewis Mumford

Summary

A sweeping study of the role of the city in human civilization, from ancient times to the modern metropolis. Mumford critiques the dehumanizing aspects of urban sprawl.

Historical Context & Significance

Mumford's work was a foundational text for the "New Urbanism" movement, warning against the car-centric design of modern American cities.