A City Is Not a Computer - (Places Books) by Shannon Mattern (Paperback)

A City Is Not a Computer is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges our understanding of urban spaces and their relationship with technology.

Shannon Mattern, a renowned anthropologist and professor at the New School for Social Research, argues that cities are not just computational models that can be optimized through data-driven planning and algorithmic administration.

Instead, they are complex systems that encompass myriad forms of local and indigenous intelligences and knowledge institutions. Through a series of engaging case studies and incisive critiques of urban technologies, Mattern reveals the limitations of smart city ideologies and their tendency to reduce place-based knowledge to information processing.

She advocates for a more inclusive and diverse approach to urban planning and design, one that recognizes the importance of public libraries as stewards of urban intelligence and the need for sustained investment in infrastructure and institutions that support the well-being of cities and their inhabitants. With its compact size and accessible writing style, A City Is Not a Computer is an ideal read for anyone interested in urban studies, data science, media and information studies, or simply seeking a fresh perspective on the city they call home.

Whether you're a student, researcher, policymaker, or simply a curious citizen, this book will inspire you to rethink your assumptions about the relationship between technology, urbanism, and the complex systems that shape our cities.

So why wait? Order your copy today and join the conversation on the future of urban living!