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be more
do more
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time
by Jeff Speck
This book is informative, easy to read and understand, and Mr. Speck is funny.
The Smart Swarm: How Understanding Flocks, Schools, and Colonies Can Make Us Better at Communicating, Decision Making, and Getting Things Done
by Peter Miller
This book couldn't have come at a better time for us in our understanding of people in cities. We found this book fascinating and useful.
For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places
by Peter Kageyama
This book will probably interest you and may even surprise your amygdala. We love books about making cities better and thus we think this book is pretty hot.
Cities for People
by Jan Gehl
We value this book; but sometimes, the reviews are extremely insightful (Edith Wharton II and Jerry Robbins posted two useful notes on Amazon reviews). ...Although, it is at the Seattle public library, so no harm to your dollar-dollar bills yo
Books are important and all, but articles and journal publications are such amazing resources!!
We linked the photo to "urban+art+planning".
Community: The Structure of Belonging
by James Lyons
We love this book a lot. It is a quick and easy read but provides the keys to successful community and wonderful insights on being a person in society (or urbanite). This one is worthy of keeping around for new members to understand how they can fit in to your community; it's also a feel good book.
The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at A Time
by David Sloan Wilson
A long book which has a lot of important useful concepts. However, there is a bit too much personal biography mixed in for my taste due to the author's love of biology (but we thank him for that love as it brought us the concepts). You may thoroughly enjoy it.
City: Rediscovering the Center
by William H. Whyte
An older book with a clear vision. All about the influences of public space and how to be maticulous in your observations.
Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier and Happier
by Edward Glaeser
As if people didn't like cities enough, this book champions for cities across the globe. A thick book full of information and a life's long research and passion for the dynamism of the urban interim.
The Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology, and Design
by Lance Hosey
A very important read for everyone in design and planning. This book isn't
just full of specific examples, it is also
full of wisdom. Aesthetics are more important than we give conscious effort to and ecology is the mother of design wisdom.
This is a pretty short list and certainly not comprehensive, although it never can be
The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity
by Richard Florida
This book is also easy to read and interesting. It has come across much criticism about the true value of art in helping recover economies.
If you read this book, you should also read this article
Seattle and the Roots of Urban Sustainability: Inventing Ecotopia
by Jeffrey Craig Sanders
This book is a history book which the author took great care to collect and susinct information for.
Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World
by Ross Chapin
This book is beautiful and insightful. If you are new to these topics, this book may bring more light to home, community, and aesthetics.
The Creative Placemakers’ Playbook
by Anne Godwa Nicodemus
This book is not yet available.
Creative Placemaking
by Ann Markusen & Anne Godwa Nicodemus
Selling Seattle: Representing Contemporary Urban America
by James Lyons
Have you read this? Let us know what you think, and please–stay on the bright side of criticism. We appeciate it.
We think we are going to enjoy it, but it was written in 2004 and a lot has happened since then.
Concrete Reveries: Consciouness and the City
by Mark Kingwell
I will never look at concrete in a negative way again. This book is thick with specific philosophical information which honestly was a bit over my head. You may or may not enjoy it, but we think it is good for any urban planner especially those engaged in research. We will be returning to this source.
Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Desicion Making
by Deborah Stone
A really great book for students, researchers, and government professionals. Although titled accurately, this book is fascinateingly important for planners and is actually written to keep your interest... "chocolate cake"... Chapters: Politics, Goals, Problems, Solutions
What We See: Advancing the Observations of Jane Jacobs
by Stephen Goldsmith, Lynne Elizabeth, and Arlene Goldbard
This book is a collection of essays–each individual, each creative–reflecting and refering to Jacons' life and work. One chapter is "The Obligation to Listen, Learn, and Teach–Patiently" by James Stokard
Culture and Public Action
by Vjayendra Rao and Michael Walton
This book is so important for anyone working with cultural issues, racial sensitivity, and/or equity.
If you have a book (or article) which we just really must absolutely read, list, and use...
EMAIL US!! We love it.​