Private Pleasure, Public Plight - American Metropolitan Community Life in Comparative Perspective

Description

This is a social and cultural analysis of community life in metropolitan areas of three nations--the United States, Sweden, and England. The author focuses on how environment and culture interact to shape human behavior. Despite their many similarities, the three societies offer remarkably contrasting urban forms, and thus provide a unique opportunity for comparative research. The findings suggest goals for urban community development in America that can help regain a sense of human scale and establish more meaningful face-to-face contact among urban dwellers. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Introduction to the 2000 Edition -- Preface -- Introduction -- Part I History -- 1. The Rural to Urban Transition -- 2. The Path to Metropolitan Life -- Part II Form -- 3. The Metropolitan Setting: A Portrait of Three Metropolitan Areas -- 4. Explaining the Dissimilarities of Metropolitan Form -- Part III Life -- 5. Everyday Life in the Metropolitan Area -- 6. The Structure of the Metropolitan Community -- Part IV Change -- 7. The Metropolitan Community and the Privatization of Life -- 8. Changing the Metropolitan Community in the United States -- Index.