A nice introduction to the problems and concerns facing different groups of urban Americans at different points in time.

Amy S. Greenberg, Penn State University

A dynamic and captivating volume. The diverse and important individuals who populate the chapters of The Human Tradition in Urban America will make urban history courses come alive. Skillfully edited by Roger Biles, this innovative book will prove itself enticing.

Michael H. Ebner, Lake Forest College

A splendid addition to the Human Tradition series that utilizes biography to reflect urban history and urban change.

Melvin G. Holli, professor of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago, author of The American Mayor

Cities are more than buildings and infrastructures; they are also people. This delightful and informative collection of brief biographical sketches illuminates the variety of the urban experience. Professor Biles presents the stories of innovators-some familiar, but many newly introduced to most readers-who used the urban experience as a catalyst for new ideas. We are all richer for who they were and what they did.

Perry Duis, University of Ilinois at Chicago

An intellectually compelling collection of biographies of urbanites. . . . These essays are accessible to undergraduates, yet grapple with hotly debated issues.

Choice Reviews