Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

Reimagining our cities for a sustainable and human-centric future

In her groundbreaking book Wonder City, Lynn Ellsworth delves deep into the heart of modern urban life, casting a critical eye on the transformative changes sweeping through cities like New York. This compelling journey into the world of urban development goes beyond the usual narra-tive, serving as a passionate call to action that encourages readers to actively participate in shaping the future of their cities.

Ellsworth expertly navigates through complex themes such as affordable housing, urban plan-ning, historic preservation, and architecture. With a focus on major cities undergoing significant transformations, Wonder City offers an insightful examination of the challenges and opportunities that define contemporary urban life.

At the core of this engaging narrative is a striking critique of the real estate industry's influence over urban landscapes. Ellsworth reveals how historic and culturally rich urban settings are increas-ingly being overshadowed by the rise of impersonal glass towers, a trend she argues is driven by the industry's grip on politicians and technocrats. This analysis is both eye-opening and unsettling, shedding light on the forces reshaping our urban environments.

Wonder City is more than a critique, however. Ellsworth provides a pragmatic blueprint for revitalizing urban spaces. She champions the need for affordable housing, sustainable urban plan-ning, and architecture that respects and enhances the human experience. Her arguments challenge the prevailing economic theories behind housing supply and question the architectural ideologies that often justify the demolition of historic urban assets.

This book is an essential read for urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of urban living. Ellsworth's clear, accessible insights into complex issues make Wonder City a vital contribution to the discourse on urban development, appealing to a broad audience that cares about the dynamics and future of city life.

Author: Lynn Ellsworth
Publisher: Fordham University Press
Published: 05/06/2025
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781531508180

About the Author
Lynn Ellsworth is a prominent urban activist and scholar. She is the founder and coordinator of a network of more than a hundred neighborhood groups concerned with the development of New York. She has contributed dozens of op-eds in a variety of publications, given expert testimony at myriad public hearings, and written numerous white papers in the fight to preserve New York's human scale. Ellsworth is also an economist (PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison, MA Columbia University, and BA from Barnard College).