a lot of folks have been asking for resources about housing theory since the #ATUNConvention so i thought i would post my housing/planning books! highly recommend these for anyone interested in learning about gentrification and other urban development processes:

i am currently working my way through urban warfare and i actually feel like reading rn (rare post-pandemic lol) but as i have time i will thread with some short descriptions and reviews! and pls comment with your own recommendations!

“Spaces of Global Capitalism” by @profdavidharvey - this one is really a few essays in book form. it’s pretty academic-y but good if you want an intro to some of Harvey’s theories about neoliberalism and global development, especially if you are a researcher.

“Capital City” by Samuel Stein - this is about how city governments contribute to & rely on gentrification. if i had to recommend just one book from this list, it would be this one. it’s super accessible even while explaining some really complex processes.

“Evicted” by @just_shelter - this one is was the 1st book i read from this pile, it’s a classic at this point (despite not being old lol). great for understanding the landlord-tenant relationship and why/how landlords get away with so much. also just incredible storytelling.

“How to Kill a City” by @_pem_pem - the 2nd book i read from the pile! illustrates gentrification through examples from new orleans, detroit, san francisco, & new york. this book first helped me understand gentrification as a systematic process instead of an individual decision

“In Defense of Housing” by @davidjmadden and Peter Marcuse - explains housing commodification and other interesting concepts like “residential alienation.” really gets you thinking, my copy is almost falling apart from how much i bent it to write ideas in the margins

“The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein - the book that got everyone talking about redlining and housing segregation. i honestly still haven’t finished it, but it is of course THE book to learn about the history of redlining.

“Uneven Development” by Neil Smith - another one I’m just starting, really comprehensively explains the theory of uneven development. Smith developed the “rent gap” theory of gentrification so I’m reading this to learn more about his work!

“Barrio Dreams” by @arlenedavila1 - this one was assigned in class last semester and i didn’t finish it once the pandemic hit, but i really want to get back into it! it looks at how Latino ethnicity was marketed in gentrifying Spanish Harlem (sorry the description is covered )

“Urban Warfare” by @raquelrolnik - also currently reading! this one goes ridiculously in-depth on how housing has become both commodified and financialized globally. it’s a tough read but worth it for a better understanding of the housing system and private land ownership