Historically; we see the city as the cramped; crumbling core of development and culture; and the suburb as the vast outlying wasteland ndash; convenient; but vacant. Contemporary urban design proves this wrong. In New SubUrbanisms; Judith De Jong explains the on-going "flattening" of the American Metropolis; as suburbs are becoming more like their central cities ndash; and cities more like their suburbs through significant changes in spatial and formal practice as well as demographic and cultural changes. These revisionist practices are exemplified in the emergence of hybrid sub/urban conditions such as parking practices; the residential densification of suburbia; hyper-programmed public spaces and inner city big-box retail; among others. Each of these hybridized conditions reflects to varying degrees the reciprocating influences of the urban and the suburban. Each also offers opportunities for innovation in new formal and spatial practices that re-configure conventional understandings of urban and suburban; and in new ways of forming the evolving American metropolis. Based on this new understanding; De Jong argues for the development of new ways of building the city. Aimed at students and practitioners of urban design and planning New SubUrbanisms attempts to re-frame the contemporary metropolis in a way that will generate more instrumental engagement ndash; and ultimately; better design.
#98934 in eBooks 2013-09-15 2013-09-15File Name: B00F8Q1RAS
Review
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful. Best Edition for the Common ReaderBy DrifterThis review is for Heldts edition; which is the most affordable modern translation of the Kojiki. This translation is very readable to a modern audience; and although I do not read Japanese; Ive read scholarly reviews praising Heldts accuracy. I do have two major issues with this edition. The first is Heldts insistence in translating the names of characters and places. It makes it very difficult to keep track of who is who; and where events are taking place. I lived a year in Japan and I couldnt tell you where most of the stories in the Kojiki took place from this edition because instead of saying "They went to Izumo" Heldt gives us "They went to Bellowing Clouds". Likewise I cannot cross reference anything concerning characters because their Japanese names are not used. My second issue was Heldts decision to not include notes on the text (foot or end notes). He does include a glossary of personal and place names; but these are listed exclusively under Heldts translated names (and these translations are exclusively his own; not a scholarly consensus). This again makes cross referencing very difficult. Ultimately this edition is best for someone who is only interested in reading the stories of the Kojiki and necessarily looking to learn much about the politics and such behind the text.As for the Kojiki itself; I found it to be rather disappointing. It does contain some stories of the Shinto Kami early on; but more than anything this is an inflated genealogical text establishing the tradition of the Japanese Imperial family. I found few of the stories to be exciting. The only tale I found to be emotionally engaging at all was that of Yamato-takeru (here called Yamato Brave). Certain sections of the Kojiki literally just list an emperors name; their consorts; their offsprings; and the years they reigned. I would only recommend the Kojiki to someone who is really curious about the earliest story of Shinto Kami or with an interest in the establishment of the tradition of the a Japanese Imperial family. If you really want to read the Kojiki and dont want to pay tons of money for a more scholarly developed edition; then this is the one to get.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Mandatory ReadingBy Patrick LovellMandatory for anyone serious about understanding Japan0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Vivid translation of the imposing ancient myth of the creation ...By R. E. MomsterVivid translation of the imposing ancient myth of the creation of Japan. Dispels any illusions that the Greeks and Egyptians cornered all the wild weirdness conceivable in a cast of daring and demonic divinities.