Englewood, in Chicago, had a rough time during the recession. Already facing a high poverty rate and decades of municipal neglect, the neighborhood saw dozens of foreclosures, leaving streets pockmarked with boarded-up houses and vacant lots. Violence spiked. Older people feared leaving their homes. In 2009, though, something changed: a community group turned one of those vacant lots into a farm. Soon, people began to congregate there. They started a farmer's market and cooking classes, bringing an affordable source of ...
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Englewood, in Chicago, had a rough time during the recession. Already facing a high poverty rate and decades of municipal neglect, the neighborhood saw dozens of foreclosures, leaving streets pockmarked with boarded-up houses and vacant lots. Violence spiked. Older people feared leaving their homes. In 2009, though, something changed: a community group turned one of those vacant lots into a farm. Soon, people began to congregate there. They started a farmer's market and cooking classes, bringing an affordable source of produce to what had been a food desert. Today, even the local gang members respect it as a safe space. The Wood Street Urban farm only occupies a block or two, but it's a vital part of what sociologist Eric Klinenberg calls social infrastructure--the spaces and places that shape face-to-face interactions within a community. Public institutions, such as libraries, schools, playgrounds, parks, athletic fields, and swimming pools are vital parts of social infrastructure. So are churches and synagogues, flea markets, the corner diner. They're places where people can gather and linger, encouraging the formation of community ties and promoting interaction across group lines. In Palaces for the People, Klinenberg takes us around the globe--from Singapore to Brazil and from Englewood to Silicon Valley--to show how the physical spaces in which we interact hold the key to solving some of the most profound challenges of our time, from political polarization to climate change.
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New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Contains: Illustrations. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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A new copy. "A comprehensive, entertaining, and compelling argument for how rebuilding social infrastructure can help heal divisions in our society and move us forward."--Jon Stewart NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR-"Engaging."--Mayor Pete Buttigieg, The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) We are living in a time of deep divisions. Americans are sorting themselves along racial, religious, and cultural lines, leading to a level of polarization that the country hasn't seen since the Civil War. Pundits and politicians are calling for us to come together and find common purpose. But how, exactly, can this be done? In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg suggests a way forward. He believes that the future of democratic societies rests not simply on shared values but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, churches, and parks where crucial connections are formed. Interweaving his own research with examples from around the globe, Klinenberg shows how "social infrastructure" is helping to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges. Richly reported and ultimately uplifting, Palaces for the People offers a blueprint for bridging our seemingly unbridgeable divides. LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION "Just brilliant! "--Roman Mars, 99% Invisible "The aim of this sweeping work is to popularize the notion of 'social infrastructure'--the 'physical places and organizations that shape the way people interact'....Here, drawing on research in urban planning, behavioral economics, and environmental psychology, as well as on his own fieldwork from around the world, [Eric Klinenberg] posits that a community's resilience correlates strongly with the robustness of its social infrastructure. The numerous case studies add up to a plea for more investment in the spaces and institutions (parks, libraries, childcare centers) that foster mutual support in civic life."--The New Yorker "Palaces for the People--the title is taken from the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's description of the hundreds of libraries he funded--is essentially a calm, lucid exposition of a centuries-old idea, which is really a furious call to action."--New Statesman "Clear-eyed...fascinating."--Psychology Today.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Contains: Illustrations. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.