Sprawl

By Robert Bruegmann,

Book cover of Sprawl: A Compact History

Book description

As anyone who has flown into Los Angeles at dusk or Houston at midday knows, urban areas today defy traditional notions of what a city is. Our old definitions of urban, suburban, and rural fail to capture the complexity of these vast regions with their superhighways, subdivisions, industrial areas, office…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Sprawl as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

An architectural historian motivated by simple curiosity concludes that sprawl is not new and is a worldwide phenomenon. Highbrow critics have always condemned suburbanization until the next generation ends up living in it and trying to preserve it against further suburbanization. Bruegmann’s wide-ranging book is a sprightly send-up of the anti-sprawl sentiments throughout history and across the globe. Greenbelts to contain sprawl turn out to be especially toxic to sensible urban development. 

Want books like Sprawl?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 80 books like Sprawl.

Browse books like Sprawl

Book cover of Zoned in the USA: The Origins and Implications of American Land-Use Regulation
Book cover of The Zoning of America: Euclid V. Ambler
Book cover of The Environmental Protection Hustle

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in zoning, urban sprawl, and Los Angeles?

Zoning 7 books
Urban Sprawl 10 books
Los Angeles 361 books