
Metropolis
A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention
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Narrated by:
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John Sackville
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By:
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Ben Wilson
In a captivating tour of cities famous and forgotten, acclaimed historian Ben Wilson tells the glorious, millennia-spanning story how urban living sparked humankind's greatest innovations.
“A towering achievement.... Reading this book is like visiting an exhilarating city for the first time - dazzling.” (The Wall Street Journal)
During the 200 millennia of humanity’s existence, nothing has shaped us more profoundly than the city. From their very beginnings, cities created such a flourishing of human endeavor - new professions, new forms of art, worship, and trade - that they kick-started civilization. Guiding us through the centuries, Wilson reveals the innovations nurtured by the inimitable energy of human beings together: civics in the agora of Athens, global trade in ninth-century Baghdad, finance in the coffeehouses of London, domestic comforts in the heart of Amsterdam, peacocking in Belle Époque Paris. In the modern age, the skyscrapers of New York City inspired utopian visions of community design, while the trees of twenty-first-century Seattle and Shanghai point to a sustainable future in the age of climate change. Pause-resisting, irresistible, and rich with engrossing detail, Metropolis is a brilliant demonstration that the story of human civilization is the story of cities.
©2020 Ben Wilson (P)2020 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Ben Wilson takes us on an exhilarating tour of more than two dozen cities and thousands of years ... Metropolis is a bold undertaking that makes for gripping reading." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Historian Wilson (Empire of the Deep) offers a sweeping survey of how the rise of cities over the past 6,000 years has shaped human history.... An amiable and well-informed tour guide, Wilson stuffs his account with intriguing arcana and analysis. Armchair travelers will be enlightened and entertained." (Publishers Weekly)
"Information rich and accessible. For history and public policy readers seeking a global vision of the impact of world cities." (Library Journal)
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Excellent
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Incredible story-telling about history
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Great research…
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It explains the role pivotal cities played for many of the premier civilizations of their time; how advances that affected the progress of all humanity came to be discovered and implemented in urban centers.
The book greatly deepens the readers understanding of how history came to be.
It further describes how even the earliest cultures had an impact on the environment around them, that ultimately determined their long-term success.
It describes how cities of the future will adapt to our current environmental crisis; how humankind and urban centers will develop symbiotically with nature To make for a brighter greener future.
This is a must read for all.
Metropolis a history of urban civilization
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Excellent
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A beautiful audio book
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Very insightful and excellent history of cities . Found early civilization chapters particularly fascinating!
Highly recommend this book to history buffs and anyone with penchant for social sciences . Very very impressed with this selection!
Great Listen
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Fascinating but...
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Astonishingly Fun & Educational
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would not recommend book or recording
spins out towards end
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