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In the book review titled "A New Model for Housing Finance—Public and Private Sectors Working Together to Build Affordability" by Murtaza Baxamusa, the author explores the housing crisis in the United States and its impact on working families. The book addresses the definition and scope of the housing crisis, compares housing policies in other countries, examines the historical and legal context of land prices, traces the evolution of public investment in housing, discusses housing finance and financialization, analyzes the impact of land-use regulations on housing, and proposes a policy framework to bridge the public-private sector divide. The book offers a global perspective, critiques traditional housing policies, and provides actionable recommendations for affordable housing. While it could benefit from more exploration of grassroots movements and consideration of political feasibility, it is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in housing studies, urban planning, and public policy. [Extracted from the article]

The book review discusses "Espaces et genre dans le monde arabe: Des transformations urbaines aux mutations des rapports de sexe," edited by Abdelhafid Hammouche and Safaa Monqid. The anthology explores the relationship between gender and urban development in Arab and Mediterranean societies, with a focus on Morocco. The book brings together diverse perspectives from scholars in various disciplines to examine how societal norms and urbanization impact gender relations and women's access to public space. The chapters cover topics such as the modernization of Rabat, the experiences of Moroccan migrants in France, the spatial practices of women in different migration contexts, and the appropriation of collective space in Tunis. The book contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on urban sociology, migration studies, and cultural studies. [Extracted from the article]

"Up from the Depths, Herman Melville, Lewis Mumford, and Rediscovery of Dark Times" is a book that explores the intersection of the literary ambitions and personal lives of Herman Melville and Lewis Mumford as they confront the trauma of modernity. The book delves into their shared experiences of despair and hope, their reflections on nature and the city, and their efforts to find communal connections in the face of alienation and catastrophe. It also highlights Mumford's contributions to regional planning and his vision for a sustainable future that balances consumer desires with ecological relations. The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the limits of nature and fostering deep relationships with each other and the world. [Extracted from the article]

"Against the Commons: A Radical History of Urban Planning" by Álvaro Sevilla-Buitrago explores the concepts of radical planning and commoning in urban planning. The book challenges dominant assumptions in urban planning and offers alternative planning genealogies. It focuses on the history of internal colonization in Western capitalist countries, examining four major territories: the English Countryside, New York and Chicago, Weimar Berlin, and Milan. The book highlights the role of colonial legacies in shaping planetary urbanization and explores the possibilities of commoning and radical planning in a postcapitalist future. [Extracted from the article]

Tom Goodfellow's book, "Politics and the Urban Frontier: Transformation and Divergence in Late Urbanizing East Africa," explores the relationship between states and urban populations in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda, focusing on the capital cities of Addis Ababa, Kampala, and Kigali. The book examines four key issues that shape urbanization in these cities: land regimes and property, infrastructure and basic services, urban economies and labor, and urban mobilizations. Goodfellow's analysis provides insight into the unique urbanization trends in the region and the specificities of urban development in each country and city. The book also discusses the concept of the urban frontier in East Africa and its impact on urban development and politics. It acknowledges the differences between East African cities and other global cities, emphasizing the importance of understanding both their unique characteristics and the common forces that connect them. The text also highlights the authoritarian nature of the regimes in power in East Africa and the challenges this presents for urban politics and the potential for change. It calls for a deeper understanding of urban politics in authoritarian contexts and the need for adaptable theories to analyze and address these challenges. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Governing Neighborhoods in Urban China: Changing State-Society Relations" by Beibei Tang explores the evolving forms of governance in urban China and their impact on state-society relations. Tang focuses on two types of neighborhoods - middle-class neighborhoods and neighborhoods composed of former villagers - to examine everyday governance practices and their implications for political power. Drawing on field-based research conducted in four Chinese cities, Tang argues that the Chinese state has transitioned from a comprehensive collective consumption provider to a more regulatory state, with neighborhood-level organizations playing a key role in governance. The book also examines conflict resolution and service provision within neighborhoods, highlighting the complexities and inequalities that exist. While the book could benefit from a more nuanced analysis of spatial units and a clearer definition of "middle-class," it provides valuable insights into the dynamics of power and collaboration in urban China. [Extracted from the article]

"A Research Agenda for US Land Use and Planning Law" is a book that provides a summary of existing research and identifies areas for further study in the field of planning law. The book covers a wide range of topics, including zoning policies, public engagement, racial housing value equity, environmental sustainability, transportation law, historic preservation, and a comparison of US and European urban planning models. The chapters in the book explore these subjects from a theoretical perspective, without relying heavily on case studies. The book emphasizes the need for a better understanding of how localities implement land use regulations and how different aspects of land use regimes interact. It also raises questions about the unintended consequences of certain policies, such as the reliance on homeowner associations in new development and the potential exacerbation of suburban sprawl through upzoning. The book acknowledges the challenges of reaching universal policy conclusions in a diverse and complex landscape of local governments with different legal frameworks and cultural contexts. While the book encourages research to support increased housing density, it also recognizes the importance of winning public support and addressing dissenting opinions. Overall, the book provides a valuable collection of works for scholars to explore and engage with, regardless of their agreement or disagreement with the contributors' perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

"The City Aroused: Queer Places and Urban Redevelopment in Postwar San Francisco" by Damon Scott is a spatial analysis of the queer land on the San Francisco waterfront and its destruction during urban redevelopment. The book explores how the waterfront became a containment zone for a thriving queer nightlife, framed as a vice district by pro-growth advocates to drive down land costs for urban renewal projects. Despite the destruction of queer sites, the displaced community continued to organize and resist in other areas of the city. The book offers a unique perspective on the spatial dynamics and political tensions between financial interests and queer identity in San Francisco. [Extracted from the article]

This book by Saskia Kerschbaum provides a comprehensive study of the construction of aqueducts in Asia Minor during the Roman Empire. The book is based on epigraphic evidence, as well as some literary and archaeological sources. It is a lengthy volume, consisting of nine primary chapters and four additional sections, and includes a massive bibliography. The book explores various aspects of aqueduct construction, including the actors involved, the cultural significance of aqueducts, and their impact on urban development. While the book focuses on Asia Minor, it also includes material from outside the region. Overall, the book offers valuable insights into the construction and use of aqueducts in ancient times. [Extracted from the article]

By humanizing state institutions while illuminating various infrastructural dimensions, Smith shows how ethnography can provide a deeper understanding of how people and societies are organized and how authority is concurrently contested, defied, and adapted in citizens' day-to-day encounters. [Extracted from the article]

"Urban Change in Central Europe: The Case of Kraków" is a comprehensive book edited by Jacek Purchla that delves into the developmental conditions of Krakow, Poland. The book explores the historical context, the role of local self-government units, barriers to development, and the impact of spatial planning on the city. It also addresses topics such as cultural heritage protection, economic life, and architectural development. The book provides valuable insights into the specific conditions of Krakow's development and can serve as a starting point for further research and discussion on urban development in Central and Eastern Europe. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Conserving and Managing Historical Urban Landscape: An Integrated Morphological Approach" by Xiaoxi Li and Ye Zhang is a comprehensive study of urban history. It covers various topics such as urbanization, sustainability, urban environment, governance, globalization, and urban development. The book includes case studies of Ludlow in England, Chinatown in Singapore, and Old Chengnan in Nanjing, China. It explores the relationship between urban morphology and historic urban landscape management and provides recommendations for conservation and management practices. The book is a valuable resource for researchers in urban studies, urban geography, and regional planning. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Urban Design and Planning for Age-Friendly Environments Across Europe: North and South Developing Healthy and Therapeutic Living Spaces for Local Contexts" explores the intersection of urban design, planning, and age-friendly neighborhoods in Europe. It offers a comprehensive examination of how cities in Northern and Southern Europe can be developed to meet the needs of an aging population. The book takes a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on environmental planning, geography, and environmental science. It discusses key issues related to quality of life and healthy aging, methodologies and perspectives in case studies, and innovative examples of healthier and more livable neighborhoods and cities. While the book primarily focuses on the European context, it provides a strong foundation for research into the global implications of an aging population on urban development. [Extracted from the article]

This book review discusses "Only a few blocks to Cuba: cold war refugee policy, the Cuban diaspora, and the transformation of Miami" by Mauricio Castro. The book provides an in-depth historical account of the Cuban diaspora in Miami from the late 1950s to the twentieth century, highlighting the role of federal government investment in shaping the city's transformation into a global metropolis. The author argues that the U.S. government viewed Cuban migration as a strategic asset during the Cold War and invested heavily in promoting Cuban socio-economic attainment. The book explores the intersection of local interests with broader political agendas and emphasizes the importance of understanding the Cuban experience in Miami within the context of national and international politics. Overall, the book offers a well-argued and convincing analysis of the Cuban diaspora's impact on Miami's development. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Periphery. Populations and urban development in Santiago de Chile 1920-1940" by Simón Castillo Fernández and Waldo Vila Muga, analyzes urban expansion and housing conditions in the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, during the period from 1902 to 1939. Different areas are examined, highlighting infrastructure problems, lack of basic services, unsanitary conditions, and lack of regulation in real estate development. The influence of the private sector in shaping the periphery and the lack of benefits from state housing policies are emphasized. The book offers a broad view of the periphery and the experience of its residents, being relevant for historians, architects, and urban planners. [Extracted from the article]

"Property, Power and the Growth of Towns: Enterprise and Urban Development, 1100–1500" by Catherine Casson and Mark Casson is a book that aims to analyze the factors that influenced the growth and success of medieval towns in England. The book is divided into four sections, with the introduction providing an overview of the volume's scope and key concepts. The second part introduces 112 English towns, but lacks comparative discussion and a general map. The main analysis is presented in Chapters 5 and 6, which offer statistical analysis and case studies on factors such as the impact of the Black Death and the value of property. The authors conclude with a discussion on the importance of entrepreneurship in urban growth. While the book provides valuable insights, it is noted that the content is unbalanced, with a stronger emphasis on specific cases rather than the statistical analysis. [Extracted from the article]

The book "How to remake the world neighbourhood by neighbourhood" by Mack McCarter with Tim Muldoon explores the question of why well-resourced communities fail to grow and flourish over time. McCarter argues that even large urban societies are made up of local communities, and by establishing houses dedicated to renewal in each "village," transformation can occur. The book delves into the analysis of societies and the importance of positive relationships within communities. It highlights the achievements of McCarter's work in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the replication of his model across the USA and internationally. The book offers a vision of how transformative movements can be achieved through small, informed beginnings and healthy relationships. [Extracted from the article]

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