Metropolis

A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention

By: Ben Wilson

Narrated by: John Sackville

In a captivating tour of cities famous and forgotten, acclaimed historian Ben Wilson tells the glorious, millennia-spanning story how urban living sparked humankind's greatest innovations.

“A towering achievement.... Reading this book is like visiting an exhilarating city for the first time—dazzling.” —The Wall Street Journal

During the two hundred millennia of humanity’s existence, nothing has shaped us more profoundly than the city. From their very beginnings, cities created such a flourishing of human endeavor—new professions, new forms of art, worship and trade—that they kick-started civilization. Guiding us through the centuries, Wilson reveals the innovations nurtured by the inimitable energy of human beings together: civics in the agora of Athens, global trade in ninth-century Baghdad, finance in the coffeehouses of London, domestic comforts in the heart of Amsterdam, peacocking in Belle Époque Paris. In the modern age, the skyscrapers of New York City inspired utopian visions of community design, while the trees of twenty-first-century Seattle and Shanghai point to a sustainable future in the age of climate change. Page-turning, irresistible, and rich with engrossing detail, Metropolis is a brilliant demonstration that the story of human civilization is the story of cities.

Critic reviews

"[A] towering achievement . . . Reading this book is like visiting an exhilarating city for the first time-dazzling, frazzling, sometimes both simultaneously. Metropolis teems with information and observations."
--The Wall Street Journal

"Ben Wilson takes us on an exhilarating tour of more than two dozen cities and thousands of years . . . Metropolis is a bold undertaking that makes for gripping reading."
--The New York Times Book Review

"[An] ode to cities and cosmopolitan life . . . Metropolis has the added virtue of Wilson as
an erudite, creative guide to the history of civilization through its great urban areas."
--TIME magazine

"He explores the growth, diversity and evolution of human civilisation in this enchanting and meandering book."
--The Evening Standard

"[A] sharp reminder that the metropolis is vulnerable... [Wilson] brilliantly synthesises the forces that make cities hum."
--Financial Times

"[Wilson] hops from city to city and century to century, interweaving data, primary sources, anecdotes and the arts. . . Wilson has done an admirable job wrangling his topic down to an easily digestible size."
--Star Tribune

"Historian Wilson (Empire of the Deep) offers a sweeping survey of how the rise of cities over the past 6,000 years has shaped human history. . . An amiable and well-informed tour guide, Wilson stuffs his account with intriguing arcana and analysis. Armchair travelers will be enlightened and entertained."
--Publishers Weekly

"Information rich and accessible. For history and public policy readers seeking a global vision of the impact of world cities."
--Library Journal

"Wilson has mastered a gargantuan sweep of knowledge. . . Wilson’s enthusiasm for what ancient and modern cities have done for civilization is infectious, as is his magpie approach to various subjects under discussion . . . impeccably crafted."
--Highbrow Magazine

Incredible story-telling about history

So engaging and interesting to listen to. Learned so much about historical things that America and European cultures don’t talk about. Loved how this novel is not white-washed. PS the dark ages weren’t dark for the entire world! 👏👏👏

Meh

Too many digressions. Weirdly theatrical narration with unhelpful drama. Promises much more than it delivers.

terrible narration

I struggled to finish this book. The narrator sounded like he was whispering. It contains unnecessary profanity, making it unsuitable for some.

Metropolis a history of urban civilization

Accurate and detailed. The effect of the city on the progress of mankind is carefully spelled out and evaluated. If you have wondered what every day life was like in the first city or for an inhabitant of the first civilizations, this book provide clear concise answers.

It explains the role pivotal cities played for many of the premier civilizations of their time; how advances that affected the progress of all humanity came to be discovered and implemented in urban centers.

The book greatly deepens the readers understanding of how history came to be.

It further describes how even the earliest cultures had an impact on the environment around them, that ultimately determined their long-term success.

It describes how cities of the future will adapt to our current environmental crisis; how humankind and urban centers will develop symbiotically with nature To make for a brighter greener future.

This is a must read for all.

Excellent

A thorough narratively interesting survey of the history/ transformation/ impacts of cities on human development and human nature. If you’re interested in city life, urban planning or history of cities, highly recommend!