City by city

This collection of historical and personal essays explores the past, present, and future of American cities. Edited by Keith Gessen and Stephen Squibb, the book travels from Gold Rush, Alaska, to Miami, Florida, examining how forces like gentrification, underemployment, politics, culture, and crime shape urban existence. It also shares the stories of citizens whose lives are intertwined with the fortunes of their hometowns, offering a look at American storytelling up to the Great Recession.