City: Urbanism and Its End

In his new book, City: Urbanism and Its End, Yale professor Douglas Rae paints a deep portrait of the rise and fall of New Haven, relying on exhaustive research from personal interviews to statistical analysis. In the end, “[he] has provided the blueprint for the next generation of thinkers and city dwellers who debate the future of urban America.” Major themes include the need for density and a middle-class to maintain urban vitality. Drawing from his difficult time as an administrator in New Haven’s City Hall, Rae also “concluded that government in general can accomplish a lot less than people realize.” Company owners, transportation needs, the spending decisions of federal and state governments and segregation all had a significant impact on New Haven.