{"product_id":"sociable-cities-planning-history-and-environment-series-revised","title":"Sociable Cities (Planning, History and Environment Series) - Revised","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of \u003cstrong\u003eSociable Cities\u003c\/strong\u003e the focus is on readers who want a historically grounded critique of urban planning practice and policy since Ebenezer Howard. The revised edition, updated after a sixteen-year gap and published following the passing of Colin Ward, is best for urbanists, historians and policy students seeking a reflective, contextual account of how planning ideas fared through political change and austerity. The single biggest reason to buy is the book's clear tracing of continuity and rupture in British planning thought, with careful editorial framing by Peter Hall that situates the earlier text for contemporary debate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book situates Ebenezer Howard's ideas within a century of debate, helping readers understand long-term continuities in urban theory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRevised edition commentary:\u003c\/strong\u003e Peter Hall provides updated analysis that explains how political shifts and austerity affected planning since the earlier edition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeries placement:\u003c\/strong\u003e As part of the Planning, History and Environment Series, it connects to broader scholarship on urban development and public policy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEditorial continuity:\u003c\/strong\u003e The revision honors the original coauthorship while acknowledging Colin Ward's absence, offering a respectful but critical update.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolicy relevance:\u003c\/strong\u003e The text links historic ideas to modern public affairs and urban development debates, useful for practitioners and students.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSociable Cities\u003c\/strong\u003e is aimed at readers interested in city planning, urban history and public policy, particularly those who want to see how foundational ideas like Howard's have been interpreted and repurposed across decades. It suits graduate students, urban planners and historians looking for an interpretive account rather than a technical manual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose seeking a how-to guide, design templates or up-to-the-minute statistical analysis of urban change should look elsewhere; this book offers context, critique and historiography rather than prescriptive project guidance or empirical dashboards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWell framed historical narrative that clarifies the evolution of planning thought over a century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eThoughtful revised commentary by Peter Hall that updates the book for post-1998 political realities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eUseful placement in a scholarly series that connects readers to related work in planning and environment studies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNot a practical manual for design or implementation; readers seeking prescriptive guidance may be disappointed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSociable Cities (Planning, History and Environment Series)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthors \/ Editor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeter Hall and Colin Ward (revised edition)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanning, History and Environment Series\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEdition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRevised edition following the 1998 edition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCity planning, urban history and public policy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContext\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReflects political changes including austerity and anti-planning stances\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSociable Cities\u003c\/strong\u003e is a valuable purchase for readers who want a reflective, historically informed account of urban planning debates and the legacy of Ebenezer Howard. The revised commentary by Peter Hall makes it timely for those studying how political and fiscal shifts reshaped planning discourse, and it represents good value for students and professionals seeking scholarship rather than technical instruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a new edition?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is a revised edition that revisits the 1998 text with updated commentary by Peter Hall following the earlier edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it include practical planning guidance?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the book focuses on history, critique and policy context rather than step-by-step design or implementation guides.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho contributed to the original work?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePeter Hall and Colin Ward were central to the book, with Peter Hall providing the revised framing in this edition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colin Ward","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48777621569755,"sku":"0415736749","price":72.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71MAV3ueaxL._SL1157.jpg?v=1778874620","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/sociable-cities-planning-history-and-environment-series-revised","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}