If you haven’t read a Jane Jacobs’ book, you’re missing one of North America’s great authors. Her best-known book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities was published in 1961 and remains relevant today.
I’ve just picked up Dark Age Ahead, another of her works, where she writes about the potential decay in the pillars of Western society. A quote from the jacket cover:
First we must concede that things are awry. Jacobs identifies five central pillars of our society that show serious signs of decay: community and family; higher education; science and technology; government representation; and self-regulation of the learned professions. These are the elements we depend on to stand firm-but Jacobs maintains that they are in the process of becoming irrelevant. If that happens, we will no longer recognize ourselves.
Her compelling and logical positions are made within the first fifteen pages, creating dialogue that keeps the reader riveted and wanting more. I’d call it a “must read” for those of us that care about the City of Columbus, or any of our hometowns, for that matter.
ISBN: 1400076706
Jane Jacobs died in April of 2006.
