Mackin, Anne. Americans and their Land: The House Built on Abundance. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2006.

Nothing has shaped the American character like the abundance of land that met the colonist, the pioneer, and the early suburbanite. With today's political and economic institutions shaped by the largesse of yesteryear, how will Americans fare in the new landscape of water wars, expensive housing, rising fuel prices, environmental and property rights battles, and powerful industrial lobbies? Author's website. Review in November 2006 Planning magazine.

Boone, Christopher G., and Ali Modarres. City and Environment. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2006.

For the first time in history, more than half the people of the world live in cities. Comprehending the impact of this widespread urbanization requires an awareness of the complex relationships between cities and natural ecosystems. The book moves beyond anti-urban lamentations to examine the evolution of cities and to illuminate the roles that humans play in shaping their environments, both natural and constructed. "Planners Library" review.

Hartman, Chester, and Gregory D. Squires, eds. There Is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class, and Hurricane Katrina. New York: Routledge, 2006.

Hartman and Squires assemble two dozen critical scholars and activists who present a multifaceted portrait of the social implications of the disaster. The book covers the response to the disaster and the roles that race and class played; its impact on housing and redevelopment, the historical context of urban disasters in America and the future of economic development in the region. It offers strategic guidance for key actors — government agencies, financial institutions, neighborhood organizations — in efforts to rebuild shattered communities. "Planners Library" review.

Bullard, Robert D., ed. Growing Smarter: Achieving Livable Communities, Environmental Justice, and Regional Equity. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2007.

The contributors to Growing Smarter — urban planners, sociologists, economists, educators, lawyers, health professionals, and environmentalists — all place equity at the center of their analyses of "place, space, and race." They consider such topics as the social and environmental effects of sprawl, the relationship between sprawl and concentrated poverty, and community-based regionalism that can link cities and suburbs. They examine specific cases that illustrate opportunities for integrating environmental justice concerns into smart growth efforts, including the dynamics of sprawl in a South Carolina county, the debate over the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and transportation-related pollution in Northern Manhattan.

Johnston, Robert J., and Stephen K. Swallow, eds. Economics and Contemporary Land Use Policy: Development and Conservation at the Rural-Urban Fringe. Washington, D.C.: Resources for the Future, 2006.

The consequences of land-use policy and the drivers of land conversions are often unclear. One of the first books to deal exclusively with the economics of rural-urban sprawl, Economics and Contemporary Land-Use Policy explores the causes and consequences of rapidly accelerating land conversions in urban-fringe areas, as well as implications for effective policy responses. Reviewed in December 2006 Planning magazine.

Schmickle, William E. The Politics of Historic Districts: A Primer for Grassroots Preservation. Lanham, Md.: AltaMira Press, 2007.

This how-to guide will give citizens who are fighting to designate a local historic district the political know-how to win the support of fellow residents and city hall. Everything is here: learning to think politically, mastering the political process; planning and strategy; campaign organizing and leadership; framing a practical vision; anticipating and handling the opposition; conducting community meetings; skirmishing with property rightists; managing issues, petitions, and public opinion; dealing with public officials; strategizing for public hearings; and winning the vote for district designation.

Ruchelman, Leonard I. Cities in the Third Wave: The Technological Transformation of Urban America. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.

This updated edition surveys the remarkable transformation that is taking place in urban America. Arguing that technology has both created and recast cities throughout history, Leonard I. Ruchelman explores how cities are being affected by new technology and how they will evolve in the future. Countries such as the United States and Japan have passed through the preindustrial and industrial stages of urban development and have now entered the stage of post-industrialism — what the Tofflers called the "third wave." Considering key questions, Ruchelman asks: How do the computer and communications technologies that are fuelling an information economy affect cities and suburbs? How do urban places adapt to changing conditions brought about by deindustrialization and the globalization of business enterprise? What kinds of strategies do they devise to attract and retain investment and jobs? Why do some cities appear to prosper in the new postindustrial era while others become victims?

Childs, Mark C. Squares: A Public Place Design Guide for Urbanists. Albuquerque, N. M.: University of New Mexico Press, 2004.

Mark C. Childs contends that places built to support conviviality are critical components of a good town. He includes theory, brief case studies, and 126 design queries and discussions. These questions range from the general — "How can the life of the community be strengthened by the planning of a civic place?" — to the particular — "Is the place delightful on a Tuesday morning?" Childs explores the design implications of the automobile, electronic media, the natural environment, urban furniture and structures, public safety, and public art. Interspersed with Childs's text are brief essays by other authors addressing particular kinds of public spaces: parks, urban beaches, farmers' markets, and community gardens.

Kushner, James A. Healthy Cities: The Intersection of Urban Planning, Law and Health. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press, 2007.

Imagine if our communities were designed for health, fitness, and convenience. Can housing and neighborhoods be designed for pleasant walks and car-free living? Can streets be tree-lined and attractive? Can pedestrians enjoy their surroundings and experience rather than being sandwiched between traffic and parking lots?