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SoBrief
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Citizens
by Jon Alexander • 2022
Society runs on two stories: we are subjects or consumers. A third story changes everything.
4.04
317
Citizens Summary
Citizens 90%
Society runs on two stories: we are subjects or consumers. A third story changes everything.
by Jon Alexander 2022
4.04
317 ratings
Tactical Urbanism
by Mike Lydon • 2014
How to hack your city with paint, planters, and pop-up parks, and prove change is possible now.
3.99
315
Tactical Urbanism Summary
Tactical Urbanism 89%
How to hack your city with paint, planters, and pop-up parks, and prove change is possible now.
by Mike Lydon 2014
3.99
315 ratings
Paint Your Town Red
by Matthew Brown • 2021
38 million to 111 million: the spending shift that rebuilt a town.
3.71
173
Paint Your Town Red Summary
Paint Your Town Red 89%
38 million to 111 million: the spending shift that rebuilt a town.
by Matthew Brown 2021
3.71
173 ratings
Glimpses of Utopia
by Jess Scully • 2020
A fair society is not theoretical. Its pieces are already running in cities across the world.
3.97
110
Glimpses of Utopia Summary
Glimpses of Utopia 89%
A fair society is not theoretical. Its pieces are already running in cities across the world.
by Jess Scully 2020
3.97
110 ratings
Open Democracy
by Hélène Landemore • 2020
Elections hand power to the few. A design for ordinary citizens to actually rule.
4.09
109
Open Democracy Summary
Open Democracy 88%
Elections hand power to the few. A design for ordinary citizens to actually rule.
by Hélène Landemore 2020
4.09
109 ratings
Palaces for the People
by Eric Klinenberg • 2018
Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.
3.97
5k+
Palaces for the People Summary
Palaces for the People 88%
Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.
by Eric Klinenberg 2018
3.97
5k+ ratings
A Pattern Language
by Christopher W. Alexander • 1977
253 patterns for building, from city to doorknob, that let communities design places people love.
4.42
5k+
A Pattern Language Summary
A Pattern Language 88%
253 patterns for building, from city to doorknob, that let communities design places people love.
by Christopher W. Alexander 1977
4.42
5k+ ratings
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs • 1961
Slums with low crime and safe sidewalks: the invisible logic cities follow when planners look away.
4.29
20k+
The Death and Life of Great American Cities Summary
The Death and Life of Great American Cities 88%
Slums with low crime and safe sidewalks: the invisible logic cities follow when planners look away.
by Jane Jacobs 1961
4.29
20k+ ratings
Building and Dwelling
by Richard Sennett • 2018
A city is two things: physical form and lived experience. Ethical design puts the second first.
4.02
983
Building and Dwelling Summary
Building and Dwelling 88%
A city is two things: physical form and lived experience. Ethical design puts the second first.
by Richard Sennett 2018
4.02
983 ratings
Reveille for Radicals
by Saul D. Alinsky • 1946
Democracy requires organized conflict and leaders from the bottom. A 1946 manual, still unheeded.
3.84
589
Reveille for Radicals Summary
Reveille for Radicals 88%
Democracy requires organized conflict and leaders from the bottom. A 1946 manual, still unheeded.
by Saul D. Alinsky 1946
3.84
589 ratings
The World Caf�
by Juanita Brown • 2005
Small tables, one question, rotating groups: the meeting format that surfaces collective insight.
4.11
444
The World Caf� Summary
The World Caf� 88%
Small tables, one question, rotating groups: the meeting format that surfaces collective insight.
by Juanita Brown 2005
4.11
444 ratings
After Capitalism
by David Schweickart • 2002
After capitalism: a blueprint where workers run firms and the public steers investment.
3.98
250
After Capitalism Summary
After Capitalism 88%
After capitalism: a blueprint where workers run firms and the public steers investment.
by David Schweickart 2002
3.98
250 ratings
Streetfight
by Janette Sadik-Khan • 2016
Paint, data, and political nerve: beating the car-first status quo.
4.26
2k+
Streetfight Summary
Streetfight 88%
Paint, data, and political nerve: beating the car-first status quo.
by Janette Sadik-Khan 2016
4.26
2k+ ratings
Lifehouse
by Adam Greenfield • 2024
Votes and green tech won't stop climate collapse. The real plan: neighbors caring for each other.
3.84
86
Lifehouse Summary
Lifehouse 88%
Votes and green tech won't stop climate collapse. The real plan: neighbors caring for each other.
by Adam Greenfield 2024
3.84
86 ratings
Walkable City
by Jeff Speck • 2012
America's downtowns died for parking. The rules for bringing them back, starting at the curb.
4.32
9k+
Walkable City Summary
Walkable City 88%
America's downtowns died for parking. The rules for bringing them back, starting at the curb.
by Jeff Speck 2012
4.32
9k+ ratings
Escaping the Housing Trap
by Charles L. Marohn Jr. • 2024
Housing can't be both affordable shelter and a good investment. That conflict is the trap.
4.37
503
Escaping the Housing Trap Summary
Escaping the Housing Trap 88%
Housing can't be both affordable shelter and a good investment. That conflict is the trap.
by Charles L. Marohn Jr. 2024
4.37
503 ratings
Organizing
by Marshall Ganz • 2014
The disciplined craft of turning personal stories and living-room meetings into political power.
4.26
19
Organizing Summary
Organizing 88%
The disciplined craft of turning personal stories and living-room meetings into political power.
by Marshall Ganz 2014
4.26
19 ratings
Democracy When the People Are Thinking
by James S. Fishkin • 2018
Shallow views run democracy. When citizens deliberate, their priorities shift, and policy follows.
3.82
28
Democracy When the People Are Thinking Summary
Democracy When the People Are Thinking 88%
Shallow views run democracy. When citizens deliberate, their priorities shift, and policy follows.
by James S. Fishkin 2018
3.82
28 ratings
⿻ 數位 Plurality
by E. Glen Weyl • 2024
Tech promised liberation but delivered surveillance and polarization. Taiwan found the off-ramp.
3.51
47
⿻ 數位 Plurality Summary
⿻ 數位 Plurality 88%
Tech promised liberation but delivered surveillance and polarization. Taiwan found the off-ramp.
by E. Glen Weyl 2024
3.51
47 ratings
Politics Is for Power
by Eitan D. Hersh • 2020
Political obsession is a spectator sport that cedes power to the people who actually organize.
4.09
1k+
Politics Is for Power Summary
Politics Is for Power 88%
Political obsession is a spectator sport that cedes power to the people who actually organize.
by Eitan D. Hersh 2020
4.09
1k+ ratings
Transformative Scenario Planning
by Adam Kahane • 2012
Stuck on a big, complex problem? Stop pushing. Start transforming the whole system, together.
4.03
134
Transformative Scenario Planning Summary
Transformative Scenario Planning 88%
Stuck on a big, complex problem? Stop pushing. Start transforming the whole system, together.
by Adam Kahane 2012
4.03
134 ratings
Smart Cities
by Anthony M. Townsend • 2013
Corporations are selling smart cities. A movement of civic hackers has a better blueprint.
3.61
817
Smart Cities Summary
Smart Cities 88%
Corporations are selling smart cities. A movement of civic hackers has a better blueprint.
by Anthony M. Townsend 2013
3.61
817 ratings
The Art of Focused Conversation
by R. Brian Stanfield • 2000
Four stages of questioning that turn any group discussion into a source of collective insight.
4.05
204
The Art of Focused Conversation Summary
The Art of Focused Conversation 88%
Four stages of questioning that turn any group discussion into a source of collective insight.
by R. Brian Stanfield 2000
4.05
204 ratings
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone
by Astra Taylor • 2019
Democracy is not broken. It is eight unresolvable tensions; the work is holding them together.
4.20
731
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone Summary
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone 88%
Democracy is not broken. It is eight unresolvable tensions; the work is holding them together.
by Astra Taylor 2019
4.20
731 ratings
The Just City
by Susan S. Fainstein • 2010
Stop asking if a city is growing. Start asking who it's growing for.
3.75
174
The Just City Summary
The Just City 88%
Stop asking if a city is growing. Start asking who it's growing for.
by Susan S. Fainstein 2010
3.75
174 ratings
Radical Cities
by Justin McGuirk • 2014
The slums and squatter towers of Latin America are the world's most daring urban experiments.
4.27
434
Radical Cities Summary
Radical Cities 88%
The slums and squatter towers of Latin America are the world's most daring urban experiments.
by Justin McGuirk 2014
4.27
434 ratings
Get Together
by Bailey Richardson • 2019
Start with five passionate friends, not 500 strangers: the lean playbook for communities that last.
3.77
735
Get Together Summary
Get Together 88%
Start with five passionate friends, not 500 strangers: the lean playbook for communities that last.
by Bailey Richardson 2019
3.77
735 ratings
Cognitive Surplus
by Clay Shirky • 2010
Spare time, once captive to television, is now building public goods at the scale of nations.
3.83
6k+
Cognitive Surplus Summary
Cognitive Surplus 87%
Spare time, once captive to television, is now building public goods at the scale of nations.
by Clay Shirky 2010
3.83
6k+ ratings
Curbing Traffic
by Melissa Bruntlett • 2021
Dutch cities prove removing cars heals loneliness, restores childhood, and makes everyone richer.
4.38
633
Curbing Traffic Summary
Curbing Traffic 87%
Dutch cities prove removing cars heals loneliness, restores childhood, and makes everyone richer.
by Melissa Bruntlett 2021
4.38
633 ratings
Urban Acupuncture
by Jaime Lerner • 2003
Fast, precise interventions where a city hurts trigger chain reactions no master plan ever could.
3.66
490
Urban Acupuncture Summary
Urban Acupuncture 87%
Fast, precise interventions where a city hurts trigger chain reactions no master plan ever could.
by Jaime Lerner 2003
3.66
490 ratings
Community
by Peter Block • 2008
Belonging is not a program but a conversation: here is how to host it.
4.06
2k+
Community Summary
Community 87%
Belonging is not a program but a conversation: here is how to host it.
by Peter Block 2008
4.06
2k+ ratings
Rules for Revolutionaries
by Becky Bond • 2016
The volunteer-led organizing model that scales from a living room to a nationwide movement.
3.84
762
Rules for Revolutionaries Summary
Rules for Revolutionaries 87%
The volunteer-led organizing model that scales from a living room to a nationwide movement.
by Becky Bond 2016
3.84
762 ratings
When the People Speak
by James S. Fishkin • 2009
Democracy's dirty secret: a few hundred informed citizens reason better than millions.
3.76
49
When the People Speak Summary
When the People Speak 87%
Democracy's dirty secret: a few hundred informed citizens reason better than millions.
by James S. Fishkin 2009
3.76
49 ratings
Road to Nowhere
by Paris Marx • 2022
The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.
4.16
643
Road to Nowhere Summary
Road to Nowhere 87%
The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.
by Paris Marx 2022
4.16
643 ratings
Flat Army
by Dan Pontefract • 2013
The org chart is a lie that costs billions. The replacement is leaderful, connected, and flat.
3.41
112
Flat Army Summary
Flat Army 87%
The org chart is a lie that costs billions. The replacement is leaderful, connected, and flat.
by Dan Pontefract 2013
3.41
112 ratings
Seeing Like a State
by James C. Scott • 1998
Why grand state plans fail: the same simplifications that make society governable make it fragile.
4.21
7k+
Seeing Like a State Summary
Seeing Like a State 87%
Why grand state plans fail: the same simplifications that make society governable make it fragile.
by James C. Scott 1998
4.21
7k+ ratings
Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
by John M. Bryson • 1988
How public and nonprofit leaders turn mandates and mission into strategy that gets implemented.
3.65
364
Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations Summary
Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations 87%
How public and nonprofit leaders turn mandates and mission into strategy that gets implemented.
by John M. Bryson 1988
3.65
364 ratings
Life After Cars
by Sarah Goodyear • 2025
The cost of car dependency is hidden in plain sight. What happens when we build for people instead?
4.26
1k+
Life After Cars Summary
Life After Cars 87%
The cost of car dependency is hidden in plain sight. What happens when we build for people instead?
by Sarah Goodyear 2025
4.26
1k+ ratings
Hegemony How-To
by Jonathan Smucker • 2017
Activist is a political dead end: it isolates movements, excuses sympathizers, cedes power.
4.24
442
Hegemony How-To Summary
Hegemony How-To 87%
Activist is a political dead end: it isolates movements, excuses sympathizers, cedes power.
by Jonathan Smucker 2017
4.24
442 ratings
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
by William H. Whyte • 1980
A decade of time-lapse footage on New York plazas upended every assumption about what draws a crowd.
4.33
927
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces Summary
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces 87%
A decade of time-lapse footage on New York plazas upended every assumption about what draws a crowd.
by William H. Whyte 1980
4.33
927 ratings
The Smart Enough City
by Ben Green • 2019
Smart cities dress up political problems as engineering ones. The fix is governance, not gadgets.
4.12
208
The Smart Enough City Summary
The Smart Enough City 87%
Smart cities dress up political problems as engineering ones. The fix is governance, not gadgets.
by Ben Green 2019
4.12
208 ratings
Two Cheers for Anarchism
by James C. Scott • 2012
The anarchist's case: local know-how, small defiance, and messy disorder beat grand plans.
3.96
2k+
Two Cheers for Anarchism Summary
Two Cheers for Anarchism 87%
The anarchist's case: local know-how, small defiance, and messy disorder beat grand plans.
by James C. Scott 2012
3.96
2k+ ratings
Behind the Green Mask
by Rosa Koire • 2011
A veteran appraiser found that green policies are a UN blueprint to abolish private property.
4.28
365
Behind the Green Mask Summary
Behind the Green Mask 87%
A veteran appraiser found that green policies are a UN blueprint to abolish private property.
by Rosa Koire 2011
4.28
365 ratings
New Power
by Jeremy Heimans • 2018
Power spreads through networks, not hierarchies. The blueprint for ideas the crowd will carry.
3.81
2k+
New Power Summary
New Power 87%
Power spreads through networks, not hierarchies. The blueprint for ideas the crowd will carry.
by Jeremy Heimans 2018
3.81
2k+ ratings
The People’s Republic of Walmart
by Leigh Phillips • 2019
Big corporations already plan like socialist states. The final step is not computing but democracy.
3.88
2k+
The People’s Republic of Walmart Summary
The People’s Republic of Walmart 87%
Big corporations already plan like socialist states. The final step is not computing but democracy.
by Leigh Phillips 2019
3.88
2k+ ratings
I, the citizen
by R. Balasubramaniam
In India, the most powerful tool isn't a tractor but a citizen filing an RTI request.
4.26
53
I, the citizen Summary
I, the citizen 87%
In India, the most powerful tool isn't a tractor but a citizen filing an RTI request.
by R. Balasubramaniam
4.26
53 ratings
The Option of Urbanism
by Christopher B. Leinberger • 2007
America's car suburbs were built by policy, not consumer choice. The market now wants the opposite.
3.89
185
The Option of Urbanism Summary
The Option of Urbanism 87%
America's car suburbs were built by policy, not consumer choice. The market now wants the opposite.
by Christopher B. Leinberger 2007
3.89
185 ratings
Against the smart city
by Adam Greenfield • 2013
Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.
3.96
132
Against the smart city Summary
Against the smart city 87%
Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.
by Adam Greenfield 2013
3.96
132 ratings
On Power
by Robert A. Caro • 2017
How one man built a financial empire inside the government and became untouchable.
3.95
1k+
On Power Summary
On Power 87%
How one man built a financial empire inside the government and became untouchable.
by Robert A. Caro 2017
3.95
1k+ ratings
This Is an Uprising
by Mark Engler • 2016
Nonviolence is not a virtue. It is a technology of conflict, and it brings down regimes.
4.20
1k+
This Is an Uprising Summary
This Is an Uprising 87%
Nonviolence is not a virtue. It is a technology of conflict, and it brings down regimes.
by Mark Engler 2016
4.20
1k+ ratings
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