Parking lots have long been a ubiquitous feature of the American landscape. However, there are several compelling reasons why it might be time to consider ridding the country of these vast expanses of concrete.

For starters, parking lots take up an enormous amount of valuable urban space. In many cities, prime real estate is dedicated to parking, rather than to more productive uses such as housing, businesses, or public parks. This not only limits the growth and vitality of the city but also contributes to urban sprawl and the associated problems of traffic congestion and air pollution.

Secondly, the existence of parking lots encourages the use of cars, which is not only bad for the environment but also for public health. Studies have shown that people who rely on cars for transportation are more likely to be overweight, have heart disease, and suffer from other health problems. By reducing the number of parking lots, we can encourage people to walk, bike, or take public transportation, which is better for both the individual and the community.

Finally, getting rid of parking lots can also have a positive impact on the economy. Without the need to build and maintain large parking facilities, businesses can save money on infrastructure costs and pass these savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices. In addition, a more walkable and bikeable city can attract more tourists and businesses, leading to increased economic activity and job creation.

In conclusion, while it may seem like a radical idea, ridding America of parking lots could have a number of significant benefits for the environment, public health, and the economy. It's time to start thinking outside the box and exploring alternative ways to manage transportation and land use in our cities.

Ok. The content is very dated indeed. However, the concepts it presents are interesting. It seems that although the information might be a bit old-fashioned, there is still something valuable to be found within. It makes one wonder how these concepts have evolved over time or if they still hold any relevance in today's context. Maybe there are aspects of it that can be adapted or built upon. Despite its age, it has the potential to spark curiosity and further exploration. It could serve as a starting point for a more in-depth study or discussion. Even though it may not be completely up-to-date, the interesting concepts it contains should not be overlooked.

What went wrong with the built environment? Why are our cities such bizarre, dysfunctional dystopias where no one would ever want to live?

The answer, in short, is capitalism.

In a more detailed sense, capitalism has manifested itself through the absolute dominance of the automobile. This has led to a rewrite of the building codes, which in turn has transformed our nation into a disjointed, isolated, and broken nightmare state.

The automobile has become the centerpiece of our urban planning, dictating the layout of streets, the design of buildings, and the overall functionality of our cities.

As a result, we now have sprawling suburbs that are accessible only by car, with little or no consideration for public transportation, walkability, or community interaction.

This has led to a situation where people are more isolated than ever, spending hours commuting in their cars, and having little sense of connection to the places where they live and work.

The built environment has become a reflection of the values and priorities of capitalism, rather than a place that meets the needs and desires of the people who live in it.

To create more livable cities, we need to reevaluate our relationship with the automobile and find ways to build environments that are more sustainable, equitable, and community-oriented.

Although this book is a bit dated, it effectively chronicles the rise of sprawl.

It takes us from the days of streetcars to the development of roads and automobiles, office parks and shopping malls.

The authors discuss the cost of sprawl and the lack of density in the political, social, and economic realms.

They argue for a town/city centered development in the future.

Some cities are already moving in this direction, but many still have a long way to go, even twenty years after the book was written.

This shows that the issue of sprawl is still relevant today and that we need to continue to find ways to create more sustainable and livable communities.

Perhaps we can learn from the mistakes of the past and build cities that are more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly.

By doing so, we can reduce the negative impacts of sprawl and create a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.

Such a remarkable book! I was truly captivated by all the engaging topics that it delved into. It was an absolute treasure trove of knowledge, and I found myself learning an abundance of new and interesting things. However, there were a couple of aspects that I couldn't help but notice. Firstly, the shape of the book was rather peculiar, which made it a bit challenging to read in a comfortable position. The extra space in the margins seemed like it could have been put to good use for jotting down notes, but alas, since it wasn't my personal copy, that potential benefit was lost on me. Additionally, I felt that the book was a touch on the long side. By the time I reached about three-quarters of the way through, I had already grasped the main point. Nevertheless, despite these minor drawbacks, this is an incredible book that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with an interest in urban planning.

I read Suburban Nation due to an endorsement from a friend.

It's a book that delves into the virtues of traditional, community-oriented town planning in contrast to the current American penchant for sprawl and single-use developments. That is, big houses in one area, large office parks in another, and huge shopping centers elsewhere.

I'm not entirely certain how to evaluate the book. On one hand, I adored it in some respects. The discussions about the layout of pedestrian-and-community-friendly towns were especially fascinating. They made me realize how fortunate I was in the town where I grew up, where I could walk and bike everywhere. It also helped me critique the suburban towns where my two colleges were located. Both had some pedestrian-friendly aspects but also had wide, busy streets that disrupted the community flow and a tendency towards shopping centers.

The book also allowed me to articulate why I feel more comfortable in certain parts of Chicago. It's not because of crime statistics or creepy people on street corners but rather the design and placement of the streets and buildings. My new neighborhood feels more like home and meets more of the characteristics of a well-designed neighborhood as described in the book.

However, many of the details that gave me new insights into my different residences appeared early in the text. After that, I felt like the same ideas were being repeated incessantly. By the last couple of chapters, I was wondering who the authors were writing for, as they seemed to vacillate between addressing architects and laypeople. I also became a bit annoyed with the authors' use of cutesy acronyms like "Nimby" and "Lulu".

Overall, I learned a great deal about town planning, land usage, and how the physical environment affects community and behavior. I'm now more attentive to the built environment around me. While I eagerly devoured the earlier chapters, by the end, the book seemed to be dragging on, and I felt like the authors were just stating the obvious repeatedly.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in how the physical environment can and does influence people's behavior and sense of community. At the very least, it will make you look more closely at the streets and houses you've passed by countless times before.

This book offers a clear and comprehensive description of several important aspects.

It elaborates on why urban sprawl has such a negative impact on society. There are numerous causes contributing to urban sprawl, and the book also delves into these in detail. Moreover, it provides valuable insights on how to avoid urban sprawl in the future.

However, the only drawback is that it is somewhat lengthy. By Chapter 11, even I started to lose my enthusiasm for the anti-sprawl rhetoric. Nevertheless, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves in a situation where they need to explain why subdivisions are so harmful but can only come up with a simple response like "Because they suck!!!". This book can provide them with the necessary knowledge and arguments to present a more informed and persuasive case.

I give this book a 3-star rating.

The reason for this is that I have the impression that it fails to adequately recognize the flaws in its implementation.

Make no mistake, it is a fine book and an important read.

This is due to the significant impact it has had on the overall landscape.

However, despite its importance, I don't place an excessive amount of value or trust in it.

There are aspects of its implementation that could have been better addressed and improved upon.

Perhaps with a more thorough examination of these flaws, the book could have received a higher rating.

Nevertheless, it still has its merits and is worth considering for those interested in the subject matter.

Overall, while it has its shortcomings, it also has its place in the literary and intellectual sphere.

Fun read for the most part.

While I do concur with almost everything that is stated, the book has a tendency to rely on anecdotes and quips when responding to opposing positions. This approach might be acceptable in a conversation, but in book form, it can become a bit tiresome.

As a result, I would rather share this with my fellow urbanites than recommend it as reading for those who are seeking to have their minds changed.

It's important to note that the book does have its merits, such as presenting interesting ideas and perspectives. However, the overuse of anecdotes and quips can sometimes detract from the overall argument.

Perhaps the author could have incorporated more research and data to support their claims, rather than relying so heavily on personal stories and humorous remarks.

Nonetheless, for those who are interested in urban living and related topics, this book may still offer some valuable insights and entertainment.

An excellent book delves into the significance of traditional city design in the US. It showcases how the networks of connected walkable streets, lively mixed-use downtowns, and a diverse mix of housing types, retail, community, and other services in each neighborhood benefited everyone. However, after World War II, we deviated from this path. Zoning regulations forced everything into single-use zones, creating disconnected streets, large roads, and an overabundance of parking. As a result, the ability to walk for practical purposes, rather than just for recreation, was nearly eliminated. This book presents a compelling argument for replacing single-use zoning with form-based zoning and returning to the traditional development patterns that have made our older cities so remarkable. It also provides examples of how and where this transition is already being accomplished successfully, offering valuable insights and inspiration for the future of urban planning.

Sprawl is indeed a manifestation of mass stupidity, and new urbanism, or neo-traditionalism, holds the potential to offer a cure. If I had the opportunity to relive my life a thousand times, I would surely pursue a career as an urban planner on several occasions. I am currently a member of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU).

Jeff Speck is not only articulate but also funny. You should definitely check out his Ted Talks presentation at https://youtube.com/watch?v=6cL5Nud8d7w. Additionally, it would be beneficial to explore the Ted Talks by Peter Calthorpe, a founding member of CNU, available at https://youtube.com/watch?v=IFjD3NMv6...

However, I do have some concerns. The position of new urbanism takes growth as a given and is overly conciliatory towards the automobile. Regarding growth, I recommend "Collapse of Complex Societies" by Joseph Tainter, which delves into the inevitability of collapse in terms of diminishing returns. In the short history of civilizations, limiting factors have encompassed fertile agricultural land and healthy forests for energy. Today, we add the limited quantity of fossil fuels to this list.

Rather than assuming growth as a given, I start with peak oil as a certainty. Authors like Richard Heinberg and John Michael Greer have explored this concept. The automobile is an incredibly wasteful technology that will likely become obsolete within 100 years, and almost certainly within 500. In fact, even human overpopulation is reliant on fossil fuels for synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, farm machinery, and transportation.

Therefore, true "smart growth" should utilize our limited supply of cheap, abundant energy to localize and shrink economies and the built environment, rather than expand them. The concept of degrowth, being explored by many visionary thinkers, offers an alternative perspective.

Suburban Nation presents the ideas of Smart Growth or New Urbanism in the simplest way possible.

The authors, with decades of experience combating the sprawl-causing design rules of municipalities across the country, express their views in language that is easily understandable for those who will actually reside in these neighborhoods.

The book doesn't have politically charged language or an excessive amount of design-professional terms. Instead, it offers well-researched and rational evidence to support the use of transit-oriented development as a national standard and refute many of the arguments that frequently emerge in development discussions. These include the notions that growth is bad or can be stopped, that our current car-centered environment was the result of market forces rather than government interference, that no one desires to live in traditional neighborhoods, that building in a traditional way poses a financial risk, that car-oriented development is less expensive, that it provides a higher quality of life, and that "New Urbanism" means overcrowding or everyone living in cities.

Give this book a chance and discover how to make the places where we live as pleasant as the places we choose to visit on vacation.