vision2020
Re: New book
I, too, read the review of Kaplan's new book. I grew up in Tucson and
agree that its sprawl is inexcusable and very, very costly. When trying
to cross one of Moscow's larger intersections (for example, Blaine and
Highway 8) either on foot or my bike, I always worry that we will do to
Moscow what my car dealer relatives have done to Tucson.
Despite all this, I thought Kaplan's approach embodied a little eastern
arrogance and superiority, as if the Boston -- Washington DC corridor was
any more sustainable than Tucson and Phoenix. Is this just defensiveness?
(Please don't tell me it's too late for Moscow!)
--Priscilla Salant
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> From: Ron Force <rforce@uidaho.edu>
> To: vision2020@moscow.com
> Subject: New book
> Date: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 2:19 PM
>
> A new book, just reviewed in the Sunday New York Times, may be of
> interest to Visioneers. "An Empire Wilderness: Travels into America's
> Future" by Robert D. Kaplan explores trends in American society,
> economy, and communities through his trip through the West. He
> compares and contrasts Tucson; Orange County; Portland; and Vancouver
> B.C., and while he appreciates Portland and Vancouver, tells why he
> thinks the gated communities, "box stores", strip malls, and the
> automobile culture of Tucson and Orange County are more likely to be
> America's future.
>
> The first chapter is quoted verbatim on the NYT Book Review on the Web.
> Excerpts published in the July and August issues of the Atlantic Monthly
> appear on their Web site. The UI library doesn't have it yet, but we
> will...eventually.
> --
> ***********************************************************************
> Ron Force rforce@uidaho.edu
> Dean of Library Services (208) 885-6534
> University of Idaho Moscow 83844
> ************************************************************************
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