The cunningly titled A History of Future Cities tells the tale of four metropolises - St. Petersburg, Shanghai, Bombay (now Mumbai) and Dubai - which were founded in an attempt to emulate the West and now find themselves - at the start of this Asian Century - leading the world. The first two-thirds of the book provides an easy overview of each city's history, while the final third turns polemical, as the author looks more critically at the architectural and political follies of each city. It's a compelling thesis, and Brook's serious but accessible approach is refreshing. It does, however, need far more pictures! Fascinating study of top-down urban planning, examining four modern cities created by fiat--St. Petersburg, Shanghai, Bombay (Mumbai) and Dubai, often designed not for their inhabitants, but to conform to the wishes of an autocratic outside power, often overtly to shape the residents into something more acceptable to the designers. The really interesting part of this picks up when the builders leave or are forced out and the city proceeds more organically (excepting Dubai--it's still a theme park run wild on the whims of a dictator), with people negotiating an acceptable compromise with their living environments.
Do You like book A History Of Future Cities (2013)?
Really fascinating. If you love urban history and architecture, it's a must-read.
—burdetld
Beautifully written, interesting history. Highly recommended.
—chasity
