I am interested to see what suggestions you all have for books related to urbanism/city-planning. I know some of you all have more experience in this realm than others, but is there one (or multiple) books that you would recommend to someone with relatively minimal experience? I've found many options on amazon, but I wanted to see if there were any strong opinions here as well.

Thanks in advance.

Also, probably should have posted this in the development and buildings section.

Suburban Nation by Jeff Speck would be a good start.

Walkable City, also by Jeff speck would be a good step after reading Suburban Nation.

I enjoyed this one too and it's a quick read: The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream Is Moving: Leigh Gallagher: 9781591845256: Amazon.com: Books (http://www.amazon.com/The-End-Suburbs-American-Moving/dp/1591845254)

This will get moved probably to some sub forum where I'll never find this thread again, but I have two recommendations:

Read one of the aforementioned Speck books, AFTER you read Jane Jacobs. Life and Death was the impetus for the urbanist movement and is very significant. Speck is great modern context. Suburban Nation is very negative (despite how on-point it is) so you might do Walkable Nation.

Read something from Robert Bruegmann, too.

Geography Of Nowhere | Book by James Howard Kunstler - Simon & Schuster (http://books.simonandschuster.com/Geography-Of-Nowhere/James-Howard-Kunstler/9780671888251)

You might want check this thread out. In addition to a lot of books there are quite a number of videos. The books listed so far in this thread a good start. When I get home I will provide a few more titles.

http://www.okctalk.com/general-civic-issues/33058-new-urbanism-library.html

You might want check this thread out. In addition to a lot of books there are quite a number of videos. The books listed so far in this thread a good start. When I get home I will provide a few more titles.

http://www.okctalk.com/general-civic-issues/33058-new-urbanism-library.html

I just knew this thread would be catnip to you, Kerry. :)

Okay, I went through my library real quick and here are some additional books that might be of interest.

Beginner Level:
Congress for New Urbanism Charter by CNU (I have a PDF version of this book - PM me with an email address and I will send it to anyone who wants it)
101 Things I learned in Architecture School by Matthew Frederick
The Story of Architecture by Jonathan Glancy
The Smart Growth Manual by Andres Duany

Intermediate:
New Urbanism Best Practices Guide by Robert Steuteville (I only put this in the intermediate because of the price - it is over $100)
Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt (this should actually be required reading to get a drivers license)
The End of the Suburbs by Leigh Gallagher

Advanced:
The City Beautiful Movement by William H. Wilson
The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek. If you want to know the real reason suburbia is going to collapse (along with a lot of other stuff we think is 'normal') this book will do it.

Finally, while I have not read it yet (but is on my list), The Long Emergency by Howard Kunstler.