The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

In this episode Eric interviews Sara Joy about Jane Jacobs’ pioneering book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Written in 1961 this book represented a scathing critique of orthodox city planning from an unexpected source. Jane Jacobs was neither an architect nor a trained planner, but she was a keen observer of how cities and neighborhoods actually worked. She had the patience and instinct to look for the complex order at work within what appeared to be chaotic urban environments. And, she had the gumption not only to engage the ‘experts’ in a male dominated field, but to challenge some of their most sacred principles.

She writes in an engaging, disarming style and invites the reader to meet the people she knows and to love the places she loves as she describes the fundamental principles behind cities that are alive. As an added bonus, this episode includes a friendly battle between Eric and Sara Joy as they try to establish which one of them is truly the bigger fan of Jane Jacobs.

Access more Show Notes with pictures and resources related to this episode.

More information about this podcast and helpful church and urbanism resources can be found on The Embedded Church website.

Related Resources

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City by Anthony Flynn

The Good City and the Good Life: Renewing the American Community by Daniel Kemmis

The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community by Ray Oldenburg

Desiring the Kingdom by James K.A. Smith

The City as Liturgy: An Orthodox Theologian Corresponds with Jane Jacobs About a Gentle Reconciliation of Science and Religion by Dr. Timothy Patitsas

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City - Documentary

Picture of Eric's Jane Jacobs Linocut Print by @PeterJacobsenArt

Find these Key Terms on The Embedded Church website:

Ballet of Street Life

Density

Eyes on the Street

Third Place

Show Credits

Hosted and Produced by Eric O. Jacobsen and Sara Joy Proppe

Edited by Adam Higgins | Odd Dad Out Voice Productions

Theme Music by Jacob Shaffer

Artwork by Lance Kagey | Rotator Creative