Next on my reading list was John Stilgoe's book Outside Lies Magic: Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places. I enjoyed this book though it was probably less directly focussed on cities. In the vein of "hey, get out and look at the city" it was inspiring.
This wasn't the sort of book that lends itself well to enumeration of specific points. The author has an idealistic view of the world and is an advocate for touring around on a bike. Stilgoe divides the book into nine chapters, jam packed full of trivia loosely related to the chapter's title.
Did you know that, in the early twentieth century, men were advised to paint kitchens apple green to quiet an agitated wife? I'll be looking in old houses on the undersides of cabinets to check this one out. Did you also know that the US interstate highway system was a military building project designed to carry military hardware and also double as strategic landing strips in case of nuclear war? I didn't. I also found out that city mainstreets often lacked trees because insurance companies insisted that they were a fire hazard. Brick cities with fancy firefighting equipment were more likely to have tree-lined streets.
Though a bit romanticized in parts, this book was a really fun read and does succeed at tickling your appetite for exploration. I think this is one that I'll be likely to pick up again, particularly if I'm feeling down.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
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2 comments:
Hey Peter! That sounds like a cool book. My mom read your comment on your blog and is interested in reading your blog and here and the New Zealand blog. Let me know if that is cool.
My 'hippie father' (as my Dad called himself) suggests that if you are going into urban planning, you should read "A Pattern Language"
All are welcome to read these blogs, and that goes double for any kin of yours, Devin!
I looked at the website for A Pattern Language, and it looks interesting to say the least. I also happen to see that the UofA's architecture and planning library has several copies, which typically means something is a "must read."
Given that and the loads of positive reviews on Amazon, I'll probably grab that from the library after I finish the two books I'm working on now.
Tell your dad thanks for the recommendation! If he's interested in talking to other civic minded folks in the area, tell him to talk to Bob Giordano who heads up Free Cycles and MIST there in Missoula.
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