City Living is Smarter and "Greener"

In a great review of the book "Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier " by author Edward Glaeser, Inman News columnist Tara-Nicholle Nelson ponders the theory that large cities offer more economic, intellectual, health and even ecologic advantages over suburban life.

Glaeser, through historical examples, claims that large cities have a "strong track record over history of improving the lot in life of both their residents and their fellow non-urban countrymen." says Nelson.

Even the slums offer the impoverished medical, sanitation and economic advantages that are not offered in the 'burbs.

"A city is much more than buildings and people crammed together." says Nelson, "In fact, one of Glaeser's definitions of a city is 'the absence of physical space between people and companies,' which facilitated factory productivity in the last century, and facilitates knowledge sharing today."

Ecologically, Glaeser points out that cities have the lowest carbon footprints of any human living pattern using the least amount of gasoline consumption.

"He then segues into a sharp critique of seemingly "green" public policies mandating greenbelts and imposing "draconian" caps on urban development, as overly simplistic," writes Nelson, adding that Glaeser points out that 'California would have more than enough water for its citizens if it didn't use so much of it irrigating naturally dry farmland.'

Nelson says that this book will inspire you to look differently at city living. "Whether you live in a city, troubled or triumphant," she says, "or are one of the millions of Americans whose disgust with $4-plus per gallon gas prices has you contemplating the sometimes intimidating move to your area's big city, this book will restore your faith in what cities can be, and inspire and energize you to play your role in manifesting that possibility in your own city, if you choose to."

Read the full article at Inman News.

photo credit: jessie owen