bananabreath's review

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informative medium-paced

3.25

kimmeyer's review

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4.0

This has one central point, but makes its case for that argument quite well. I also liked it for selfish reasons because I enjoy anything that takes issue with suburban sprawl.

deathcabforlucy's review

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2.0

Themes: economics, infrastructure, investment

jswaimfox's review

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hopeful informative sad medium-paced

4.0

milo10000's review

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challenging informative medium-paced

3.0

A take on modern city planning focused almost solely on the long-term solvency of cities. Well-written where it counts, though I would call parts of it somewhat speculative, especially the sociocultural digression at the end.

alsutto1's review

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funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

rainpunk's review

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3.0

I find all the ideas compelling, but I'm disappointed with the lack of hard facts and data used to support Marohn's statements about the state of cities currently and the ways in which Strong Towns values applied make a difference. This was majority hypothetical and anecdotal. I strongly prefer the Strong Towns blog in comparison, where they frequently cite real data.

That being said, this is probably a good starting point for people interested in broadly starting an understanding on the failure of the great suburban sprawl experiment.

andrewbellisch's review

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informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.75

jazzle_dazzle's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

siriuslysirius's review

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3.0

As I expose myself to the way other countries live (mostly Europe), the more I realize how effed up just about everything we do as cities and “communities” are in the US. From having to drive every freaking place to shitty healthcare, to a broken, unfixable (as it is now) political system.

This exposure led me to this book.

Strong Towns started fine. Then personal anecdotes and stories that don’t fit well pop up. Couple that with lots of fluff, the substance is lost.

But, the substance makes sense. We need to rethink the endless outward expansion of towns and cities. I blame the New Deal - which did help create jobs, but the cost is a car obsessed culture and the loss of a walkable town and city.

Strong Towns ended very strangely with Charles talking about religion and whatnot that awkwardly kinda-sorta tied in - this adds nothing though.