Book review: Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopias.

"Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopias" by John Lorinc is a comprehensive analysis of smart cities technology and its historical and conceptual development within the field of urban studies. The book explores the complexities of defining smart cities and examines the array of technologies that contribute to their development. It also delves into the connection between smart urbanism and utopian thought, as well as the role of technology and planning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The book emphasizes the importance of urban governance and the need for a balanced understanding of the positive and negative impacts of new technologies in urban landscapes. While the book could benefit from further exploration of the utopian origins of smart cities and post-colonial analysis, it is a valuable resource for researchers interested in the intersection of technology and urban planning. [Extracted from the article]