The Death and Life of Great American Cities

The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs

This book has forever changed my preconceptions about cities and how they really work. The beginning is a bit of a rant, and the overall tone is annoyingly condescending, but the information and analysis is truly astonishing. As life in the twenty-first century increasingly means “city life,” it will be imperative that we and our leaders are aware of the principles set forth in this book. A must-read, as far as I’m concerned.