The Life and Death of Great American Cities

The diversity, strength and most importantly, the fundamental life of cities during the early part of 1960s significantly require the humanistic supervision and direction of authoritative architects and urban planners. This is under the principle that the design and overall plan of remarkable American cities such as New York should not be compromised and burdened with concerns of unsuccessful and incorrect city planning and approach. This was effectively exemplified by Jane Jacobs in “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

” The book’s success primarily lies with the author’s daring analysis of the issues relating with problem on slums or the decaying of neighborhood in famous city areas like New York. In exerting her efforts at criticizing the city planners, the book provided the public with a realization of the inefficient strategies which were designed and carried out by urban architects and concerned authorities in their management of the cities and neighborhoods of the twentieth century (Jacobs, 1961).

The book was distinctly commendable for its provision of an honest study and critique of what comprise to have a successful neighborhood. Jacobs simply stated that a city is properly handled by its managers if it manifests effective and safe streets. Additionally, the book clearly implies the need to have walkway for pedestrians, recreational or play areas and most essentially, a healthy and safe neighborhood.
The book emphasized that it pays to have a link between the constructions in the city and the people themselves. This is under the idea that effective city structures paves the way for the successful handling of the urban area by its city manager and ultimately the healthy and safe living of people within the city. Work Cited Jacobs, Jane. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, 1961.