Planetizen announced its ninth annual list of the ten best books on urban planning, design and development. This year, Planetizen based its list on ” a number of criteria, including editorial reviews, popularity, Planetizen reader nominations, number of references, sales figures, recommendations from experts and the book’s potential impact on the urban planning, development and design professions.” 

Planetizen's top ten books include:

• "The Bicycle Diaries," David Byrne (former lead singer of The Talking Heads, and now solo artist). Viking Press 
• "The Smart Growth Manual," Andrés Duany, Jeff Speck and Mike Lydon. McGrawHill Professional
• "Wrestling With Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City," Anthony Flint. Random House
• "On Private Property: Finding Common Ground on the Ownership of Land," Eric Freyfogle. Beacon Press
• "Building Up and Tearing Down: Reflections on the Age of Architecture," Paul Goldberger. The Monacelli Press
• "The Architecture of Community," Léon Krier. Island Press
• "The BLDGBLOG Book," Geoff Manaugh (writer of the well-know BLDGBLOG). Chronicle Books
• "Paris Underground: The Maps, Stations and Design of the Métro," Mark Ovenden. Penguin
• "Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less are the Keys to Sustainability," David Owen. Riverhead Books (also read "Urban is Good," a New York Times review of this book).
• "Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City," Eric W. Sanderson. Abrams Books (also read "Island in the Stream," a New York Times review of this book).

Read details on each book at Planetizen's top ten books list.

Nicolai Ouroussoff, The New York Times' architecture critic, also offered four recommendations in The New York Times holiday books section. One recommendation focuses on wilderness in NYC's parks.

• "Learning From Hangzhou," Mathieu Borysevicz, Denise Scott-Brown, Robert Venturi, Clarisa Diaz. Timezone 8
• "Bauhaus Women: Art, Handicraft, Design," Ulrike Muller. Flammarion
• "Lost Buildings," Jonathan Glancey. Goodman Books
• "Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New York City's Parks," Phillip Lopate and Joel Meyerowitz. Aperture

Read more on each book in the New York Times Holiday Book section.

Also, ASLA members can receive a special member rate for gift subscriptions to Metropolis magazine — $30 for two years (77 percent off of cover price).

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