Review by Choice Review
This book argues that changes in urban settlement patterns can help the US control the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change and, conversely, that the kinds of changes necessary to do so will facilitate richer, more humane lifestyles. The argument is based on common sense and holistic thinking; it is clear and convincing. Calthorpe's vision of urbanism is an extension of that articulated in his earlier The Next American Metropolis (1993), a seminal text of new urbanism. Here he broadens his descriptions to cover both regional and local concerns, along with issues of both policy and form. He describes the ways in which his view of urbanism can be modified in response to changing American values and emerging ecological imperatives. As with his earlier book, Calthorpe cites relevant examples from his experiences as an active urban designer to support his ideas. Although the book would have profited from more thorough referencing and better integration of graphics and text, it is an important work with a critical, timely message. It does not provide easy answers, but it describes viable possibilities and accordingly deserves a wide audience. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers. D. Sachs Kansas State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
