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A review by edent_
The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask
5.0
What an amazing book!
Simply a must-read for anyone involved in public administration.
One of the nicest things about the book is that it isn't just focussed on the White Western World. It goes from the slums of Kolkata to the revolutionary streets of China. It's a stunning exploration of the tiniest administrative details all the way up to war crimes.
I had no idea of the history of addresses - nor how they've been used to empower and repress people in equal measure. The way people get so worked up over what seems like a minor administrative detail is extraordinary. And yet, at the same time, completely understandable. These scribbles on a map define so much about our lives - and we barely ever discuss their origins or their purpose.
The book zooms through history - from antiquity and into the future - at a rapid pace. I felt like I'd seen the world and lived through the court-cases which shape our domestic geography. It's an outstanding set of investigations into an often overlooked piece of street furniture.
A small disclaimer - the author briefly interviewed me about my blog post "Why bother with What Three Words?" and quoted me in her conclusion. Which was a lovely surprise.
Simply a must-read for anyone involved in public administration.
One of the nicest things about the book is that it isn't just focussed on the White Western World. It goes from the slums of Kolkata to the revolutionary streets of China. It's a stunning exploration of the tiniest administrative details all the way up to war crimes.
I had no idea of the history of addresses - nor how they've been used to empower and repress people in equal measure. The way people get so worked up over what seems like a minor administrative detail is extraordinary. And yet, at the same time, completely understandable. These scribbles on a map define so much about our lives - and we barely ever discuss their origins or their purpose.
The book zooms through history - from antiquity and into the future - at a rapid pace. I felt like I'd seen the world and lived through the court-cases which shape our domestic geography. It's an outstanding set of investigations into an often overlooked piece of street furniture.
A small disclaimer - the author briefly interviewed me about my blog post "Why bother with What Three Words?" and quoted me in her conclusion. Which was a lovely surprise.