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The article explores different perspectives and debates surrounding architectural modernism and urbanism. It mentions Thomas Heatherwick's book criticizing modernism for creating unlivable cities and Alex Beam's book examining controversies surrounding a modernist building. The ongoing debate between those who see modernism as monotonous and those who view it as diverse is highlighted. The article discusses three books: "Brasilia-Chandigarh: Living with Modernity" compares two modernist cities, "Housing Atlas: Europe 20th Century" provides an overview of European housing schemes, and "Modern Architecture in a Post-Modern Era" explores the evolution of modern architecture within broader cultural change. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Local Government Management" edited by Nicholas A. Valcik and Teodoro J. Benavides provides a comprehensive examination of various aspects of local government management. It covers topics such as the relationships between federal, state, and local governments, future challenges and trends in local government management, the impact of digital communications on government organizations, HR management, and employee benefits in the public sector. The book emphasizes the importance of strategic planning, effective leadership, and collaboration in resolving the challenges faced by local governments. While the book is written from the perspective of the United States government, it offers valuable insights for researchers, students, and practitioners interested in understanding the complexity of local government functions. However, it should be noted that the book's applicability may be limited to the United States context, and some aspects of technology and innovation may not be fully reflected or updated. Overall, the book provides practical recommendations for creating more effective and proactive public sector organizations. [Extracted from the article]

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]

"Streets in Motion: The Making of Infrastructure, Property, and Political Culture in Twentieth Century Calcutta" by Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay is a book that explores the history of urban transformation in Calcutta, India. The book focuses on the relationship between motion and obstruction in the city, examining how the development of streets and property has shaped the urban landscape. Bandyopadhyay also delves into the impact of communal violence, suburbanization, and the informal economy on the city's social and spatial dynamics. Overall, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the 20th century city and its various struggles and transformations. [Extracted from the article]

"The Long Crisis: New York City and the Path to Neoliberalism" by Benjamin Holtzman explores the emergence of neoliberalism in New York City from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. The book focuses on the transformation of the housing market and public spaces, highlighting the impact on middle-class professionals and the poor and homeless. Holtzman argues that New York embraced neoliberalism by default rather than design, with policy adaptations driven by the city's fiscal position. The book also examines the rise of public-private partnerships in managing parks and the use of citizen patrols and private security forces to augment public security. The erosion of affordable housing and the reassertion of public order are identified as major themes, with rising homelessness as a critical factor. The book concludes that by the mid-1990s, New York had experienced a neoliberal turn characterized by increased homeownership but also rising homelessness and reduced social welfare benefits. [Extracted from the article]

"The Ends of Freedom: Reclaiming America's Lost Promise of Economic Rights" by Mark Paul delves into the inequities and struggles defining the American experience, tracing the historical and theoretical perspectives of economic policy and inequality in the US. The book explores the potential impact of economic rights, such as the right to work, housing, education, healthcare, basic income, banking, and a healthy environment, on alleviating economic suffering. While the book offers pragmatic policy recommendations, it acknowledges the need for a more inclusive dialogue that considers diverse perspectives, including feminist economic theories and gender-related matters, to address deeply rooted biases and discrimination in American society." [Extracted from the article]

"Property, Planning, and Protest: The Contentious Politics of Housing Supply" by Quintin Bradley is a comprehensive exploration of public opposition to housing and real estate development, focusing on the political economy of land value. Bradley's book delves into the intricate relationships between land, property rights, and housing, emphasizing broader social justice and democratic engagement issues. The text challenges conventional assumptions about property rights, advocating for inclusive property rights and highlighting the importance of stewardship in community planning. While the book offers a profound call for societal reflection on land use and property rights principles, future works could benefit from more practical solutions and diversified empirical studies to enhance their impact and relevance. [Extracted from the article]

The book review discusses "The Gilded Cage: Technology, Development, and State Capitalism in China" by Ya-Wen Lei, focusing on China's technological advancements and state capitalism. The book explores China's techno-development regime, from labor-intensive industrialization to techno-state capitalism, and its impact on society. It delves into the rise, transformation, and digitalization of China's techno-development, highlighting the complexities and contradictions of this process. The review emphasizes the book's extensive comparisons and rich details, calling for a class dimension to understand China's capital-labor relationship and predicting potential challenges in the techno-development regime. [Extracted from the article]

"CINVA: un proyecto latinoamericano 1951-1972" is an edited volume that explores the formation and legacy of the Centro Interamericano de Vivienda y Planeamiento (Inter-American Housing Centre; CINVA) in Bogotá. The book features contributions from multiple authors and examines CINVA's objective of training professionals and communities in social housing and urban planning. It discusses key figures and projects associated with CINVA, as well as its transition from a Pan-American project to a Latin American intellectual endeavor. The book highlights CINVA's role as a "contact zone" for the exchange of knowledge and expertise. Overall, it is a valuable resource for understanding the Latin American housing debate in the mid-20th century. [Extracted from the article]

In this book review, the author expresses disappointment with "Growth: A reckoning" by Daniel Susskind and Richard Susskind. The book explores the pursuit of economic growth and its implications. The author finds Susskind's final position on growth unconvincing. The review discusses the historical context of economic growth, the arguments for and against growth, and Susskind's proposed solutions. While the book raises interesting questions, the author ultimately finds it unsatisfactory. [Extracted from the article]

"What's Possible: Investing Now for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods" is a book that explores the intersection of climate change and community development. The book emphasizes the importance of public policies to reduce carbon emissions and create healthy communities, arguing that these policies can lead to long-term economic prosperity. It highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income and marginalized communities and emphasizes the need for their inclusion in solutions. The book also discusses case studies and strategies for addressing climate change at the state and local levels, as well as the role of community developers in tackling these challenges. Overall, the book aims to inspire collaboration among various stakeholders to address the problems associated with climate change. [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]

Enrique Peñalosa Londoño's book, "Equality and the City: Urban Innovations for All Citizens," is a contemporary handbook for urban planning policymakers. Peñalosa, a former mayor of Bogotá, shares his philosophy, strategies, wins, and losses in this comprehensive book. He emphasizes the importance of government intervention in urban planning to ensure equality and quality of life for all citizens. Peñalosa discusses various topics such as land use, redevelopment, transportation, and the role of public space in creating prosperous and equitable cities. While some may find the book overly political or simplified, it offers valuable insights into urban policy based on Peñalosa's experiences and international dialogue with peers. [Extracted from the article]

"Engaging Place, Engaging Practices: Urban History and Campus-Community Partnerships" is a book that features six essays on collaborative public history projects undertaken by urban universities in the United States. The projects aim to serve their communities by addressing local needs and preserving community culture through the lens of the past. The book provides a range of models for initiating public history projects, with examples including service-learning projects, mapping tools, archival history, and community engagement. The authors argue for the importance of equity, interdisciplinary learning, and involving community members as stakeholders in order to build connections and create a culture of collaboration between universities and their communities. The book also discusses the challenges faced in implementing these projects and suggests that academia should recognize the contributions of public history projects and interdisciplinary community work in the tenure review process. Overall, "Engaging Place, Engaging Practices" is a valuable resource for public historians, graduate students, and community organizations interested in developing urban public history projects. [Extracted from the article]

"Building a Social Contract: Modern Workers' Houses in Early Twentieth-Century Detroit" by Michael McCulloch is a book that examines the housing boom in Detroit during the 1910s and 1920s. The author explores the architectural, urban policy, and cultural developments that occurred during this period of rapid growth. McCulloch traces the evolution of workers' housing from crowded tenements to home ownership, highlighting the changing social contract between workers and employers. The book also delves into topics such as the role of real estate agents in shaping residential growth, racial and ethnic segregation, and the impact of racism on housing opportunities for Black Detroit workers. While the book provides a rich analysis of design elements and their relationship to lived experience, it falls short in connecting the specificity of industrial relations and class conflict with the architectural and planning developments in Detroit. However, the recent resurgence of union power in the UAW and other worker organizations suggests the potential for a shift in the social bargain surrounding housing provision. [Extracted from the article]

"Nicholas Barbon: Developing London, 1667–1698" by Frank Kelsall and Timothy Walker is a comprehensive account of Nicholas Barbon's life and activities as a property developer in post-Fire London. The book explores Barbon's medical training, political pamphleteering, fire insurance and land bank projects, and his role as a Member of Parliament. It delves into the complex business and financial world of late-Stuart London and provides insights into the city's rapid physical growth. The authors highlight Barbon's career as a building developer and his contributions to the housing development of the era. The book also examines how Barbon financed his projects and his involvement in other enterprises such as the creation of the Fire Office insurance scheme. The authors present a balanced view of Barbon's achievements and address criticisms from competitors. Overall, the book offers valuable insights into the development of London during this period. [Extracted from the article]

The book "A gender perspective on everyday mobility practices in Mexico City" by Paula Soto Villagrán addresses the issue of everyday mobility in Mexico City from a gender perspective. The book analyzes how mobility affects our lives and relationships, and discusses the importance of care in cities. It highlights deficiencies in infrastructure, spaces, and policies, such as insecurity and the lack of transportation and housing services. The book proposes concepts such as interdependence, solidarity, and shared responsibility, and offers tools to rethink cities and build a more inclusive and caring society. [Extracted from the article]

"A Transition to Sustainable Housing: Progress and Prospects for a Low Carbon Future" is a comprehensive book that explores the challenges and potential solutions for achieving sustainable housing in countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The book emphasizes the need for socio-technical actions and offers recommendations for achieving sustainable housing through new housing stock and retrofitting existing housing. It discusses the importance of monitoring indoor environmental factors and addresses the barriers faced by renters and homeowners in implementing sustainability measures. The text also highlights the role of capital and financial institutions in influencing consumer choices and the need for policy changes and certification systems to promote sustainable housing. Overall, the book presents a balanced view of the complexity and cost of achieving sustainability while emphasizing the potential for sustainable housing to become the norm in the housing market. [Extracted from the article]