We live in the suburban era.
The approach is rooted in history and geography, draws on all the social sciences, and highlights the ways in which suburbs are central to the ways that we understand the present and imagine the future..
The book concludes by exploring criticism and praise of suburbs in popular sociology, fiction, film, and the Americanization of twenty-first century suburbs around the globe.
The following chapters explore the vertical suburbs of Europe and East Asia, improvised or do-it-yourself suburbs in both North America and Latin America, and suburbs as places of employment.
Suburbs: A Very Short Introduction tackles two central questions: What is the history behind a suburbanizing world? What does the suburban trend mean for society, politics, and culture? Two chapters describe the ways that the new technologies of streetcars, trains, automobiles, and internet have allowed the compact cities of Britain and the United States to grow into sprawling metropolitan regions.
Social scientists argue whether contemporary suburbs are losing their luster or if a supposed back-to-the-city trend is a mirage--a debate that has been exacerbated by uncertainty over the effects of COVID-19.
Folks who love dense cities scorn suburbia, while people who like big yards dislike bustling sidewalks and subways.
Nearly everyone has a strong opinion about suburbs.
Suburban apartments rise on the outskirts of Paris, Prague, Singapore, and Beijing.
Tracts of suburban bungalows ring Sydney and Melbourne.
Well over half of all Americans and two-thirds of Canadians live in suburbs.
We live in the suburban era
