Eye-opening and thoroughly engaging, this is an indispensible look at American urban/suburban society and its future. In The Great Inversion, Alan Ehrenhalt, one of our leading urbanologists, reveals how the roles of America’s cities and suburbs are changing places—young adults and affluent retirees moving in, while immigrants and the less affluent are moving out—and addresses the implications of these shifts for the future of our society. Ehrenhalt shows us how the commercial canyons of lower Manhattan are becoming residential neighborhoods, and how mass transit has revitalized inner-city communities in Chicago and Brooklyn. He explains why car-dominated cities like Phoenix and Charlotte have sought to build twenty-first-century downtowns from scratch, while sprawling postwar suburbs are seeking to attract young people with their own form of urbanized experience.

PHILADELPHIA ARCHITECTURE; a comprehensive guide to 300 years of architectural history describes 253 BUILDINGS with 174 corresponding PHOTOGRAPHS including each building's location, date(s), architect, client, use & its fit into the social & economic history of Philadelphia & its relationship to the evolution of architectural styles. This book is for layperson or architect, resident or visitor. 'A museum of architecture', Philadelphia, more than any American city, represents the history of architecture in the U. S. with its outstanding examples of every important architectural style & period in the country's history. Contains NINE WALKING & DRIVING TOURS, an illustrated GLOSSARY of architectural terms & BIOGRAPHIES of important Philadelphia architects. The companion volume to PHILADELPHIA ARCHITECTURE: PHILADELPHIA'S BEST BUILDINGS: IN (OR NEAR) CENTER CITY. 39-PAGES ($7.95) ISBN (0-9622908-2-3) published by Foundation for Architecture, editor: John Gallery. Highlights 48 significant buildings; colorful MAPS for WALKING TOURS of four areas representing different architectural periods, & PHOTOGRAPHS of each building. Special feature--a list of outstanding buildings of interest to CHILDREN. Guidebook is perfect for the visitor restricted by time who wishes to view a select group of buildings. Call: FFA 215-569-3187; One Penn Center at Suburban Station, Suite 1165, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or Koen Book Distributors.