Illinois State Library

For anyone who loves cities but has forgotten why, this compelling book offers hope for a richer and more civilized America. John Norquist firmly believes that the American city is on the verge of a renaissance—as long as urban leaders and citizens alike take responsibility for their own futures, rather than relying on federal handouts. In The Wealth of Cities he explores how the natural advantages of cities—as centers of commerce and culture—have been systematically undermined by a half-century of ill-conceived housing, education, transportation, crime, welfare, and environmental policies resulting in urban decay and suburban sprawl. But the urban spirit has not been broken. The Wealth of Cities is a celebration of the urban experience from the front lines, and a call-to-arms for anyone in business, government, or non-profits who loves cities and wants to see them flourish in the twenty-first century.