Cities in Civilization

Peter Hall's magnum opus is essential for any armchair urban historian... His writing flows with an almost breezy style, making the book compusively readable. The scope is impressive, and Hall delivers in his monumental task, the wide breadth of knowledge being nothing short of remarkable. Even after reading it, I use the book often for reference in my studies; it was well worth adding to my collection.

Peter Hall's book "Cities in Civilization" is a masterful work with majestic sweep. Although not meant for everyone, this book provides insights into history and culture like no other. Hall looks at the golden ages of cities to illuminate their influence on great cultural achievements as well as economic and technological development, and then draws comparisons to discern what it was about these places that enabled them, of all cities, to become what they became at a particular time in history. The creative bursts of classical Athens, Renaissance Florence, and Shakespearean London are thoroughly discussed and utterly fascinating. The music of Vienna and the artistic creativity of late 19th and early 20th century Paris are literal courses on Western culture. The decadence and creative explosion of Weimar Germany is thoroughly explored before Hall turns his attention to industrialization and technology.Hall is especially good, in the midst of his analysis, at discussing various theories of social change from Marx to Schumpeter, and Weber to Harold Innis. He details the reasons for industrial and technological growth and invention in 18th century Manchester, 19th century Glasgow, and 19th and 20th century Berlin. His discussion of Detroit and Henry Ford is particularly interesting. Silicon Valley and Tokyo are also discussed, and never does Hall loses sight of how their creativity permanently affected human civilization. His section on "The Marriage of Art and Technology" is fundamental to an understanding of mass culture in the 20th and 21st centuries. Hollywood and "The Delta" region around Memphis are discussed for their impact on movies and popular music. These two sections are utterly fascinating. And his lengthy last section, which some readers may find the least interesting, deals with how many of the world's great cities have adapted to deal with increasing size and changing needs. Here Hall profiles the changes in the cities themselves, as well as changes in the cultural and social environment, of ancient Rome, and modern London, Paris, New York, Los Angelas, and Stockholm. The social experimentation in equality and how it affected housing in Sweden is particularly interesting. All in all, if you have the stamina to read 1,000 pages you will be served a wonderful course on the development of Western culture and material civilization, as well as gain a fuller appreciation for the role of the great city in history. We are all in Sir Peter's debt for his years of study and the preparation of this book. His erudition and immense learning are greatly appreciated.

This new paperback edition of a classic presents 2,500 years of urban history with a focus on city planning and urban design changes over the centuries. From the rise of the great cities of Europe to America, Cities In Civilization uses the urban focus to reveal the growth and force of cities in civilization's expansion.

I concur with the observations of Manuel Castells above. I'd add that this book is extraordinary for its pure breadth of intellect coupled with a writing style that draws the reader in to make the hundreds of pages pass by like mileposts on an uncongested freeway.As the trend to narrow, boring, specialization turns academia into a wasteland, Sir Peter has no qualms about weaving together his extraodinary knowledge of history, social science, literature, performing arts, technology -- you name it, he is able to show insight about it. All of this comes together in a natural way to reveal the nature of creativity that has made cities special. The author is a keen observer, and there's is something new, unexpected, and intriguing at every turn. Indeed, I have to blame the author for far too many sleepless nights as I lay in bed helpless to put down this magnetic book, which shows and imparts that very pleasure in learning that accompanied periods which have made cities great.This is a book of a century, and should be read by everyone, but no student of cities, urban studies, geography, history, or social sciences should be without it.

Do not be put off by a conventional title. Under the appearance of academic urban history this is an account of the urban sources of cultural creativity and technological innovation throughout history, from Athens to Florence, to London, to New York, to Paris, to Los Angeles, to Silicon Valley, and beyond. It deals with art, culture, music, technology, business, power, dreams and nightmares. Wonderfully written by one of the most distinguished urbanists in the world, this book delights, informs, and explains why certain people in certain places create, prosper and enjoy life, and others don't. The best book on cities in many years. Manuel Castells, Berkeley, California