London's Policy Exchange will publish a good book next week. It is titled "Living for the City". I know its good because the book includes an essay of mine that builds on some of my Green Cities' book key themes.

Here is their blurb (for more details see http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/)

LIVING FOR THE CITY: A new agenda for green cities

Michelangelo claimed he loved cities above all, finding no salvation in nature. For many people today, though, cities mean the social problems of pollution, congestion, overcrowding and robbery. They are a fact of life, to be accepted rather than questioned, endured rather than understood.

But how do we live in cities today? How does city design affect our lives? How can we make cities healthier and more pleasant places to live for all their inhabitants?


“Living for the City” addresses these important issues. It questions the basic assumptions on which much recent British government policy has been based. And it argues for a crucial and unexpected linkage between three things: “direct democracy” or greater citizen participation in community action and local decision-making; greener, healthier and safer city environments; and improved economic growth. In so doing, it sets the scene for a new centre-right agenda for cities.

Here is an exciting event that I won't be able to attend.
"We are holding a launch event at Policy Exchange in Westminster at 6.30 pm on Monday, 6 November 2006, with speakers including Rt Hon John Gummer MP, Co-Chair of the Quality of Life Policy Group and Kate Davies, Chief Executive of the Notting Hill Housing Trust."

Instead, next monday I'll be speaking at Penn State. Ed Coulson was kind enough to invite me to give a seminar there.