In Building and Dwelling Richard Sennett distils a lifetime's thinking and practical
experience to explore the relationship between the good built environment and the good life. He
argues for and describes in rich detail the idea of an open city one in which people learn
to manage complexity. He shows how the design of cities can enrich or diminish the everyday
experience of those who dwell in them. The book ranges widely - from London Paris and
Barcelona to Shanghai Mumbai and Medellin in Colombia - and draws on classic thinkers such as
Tocqueville Heidegger Max Weber and Walter Benjamin. It also draws on Sennett's many decades
as a practical planner himself testing what works what doesn't and why. He shows what works
ethically is often the most practical solution for cities' problems. This is a humane and
thrilling book which allows us to think freshly about how we live in cities. The experience
and wisdom of the author are visible on every page. His voice is distinctive and engaging. It
should attract anyone interested in the physical circumstances of civilization.
