The United States of Suburbia: How the Suburbs Took Control of America and What They Plan to Do with It

by G. Scott Thomas

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573922439
• ISBN13: 9781573922432
• Release Date: November 1998
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Realistic view of politics in suburban America

This book does an excellent job of explaining the rise of suburban influence (and the corresponding decline in urban influence) as well as the political views and beliefs of suburbanites. Thomas also spends a lot of time in breaking down the American electorate into distinct voting blocs and how these blocs vote. He refutes the view that suburbanites are merely conservative dittoheads. There is much more to suburban politics than anti-tax sentiment and opposition to welfare and affirmative action, something that Republicans ignore at their peril.Thomas is rather pessimistic on the future of cities, but if you accept his thesis, it's hard to believe otherwise. My only disappointment with this book was that he did not address the issue of declining first-ring suburbs more thoroughly. Aside from a mention of decaying first-ring suburbs of Detroit and another passing reference in a discussion of Frederick Law Olmsted, this is largely unaddressed.

Comprehensive, convincing, easy to read

The United States of Suburbia makes a strong case that suburban voters will control American politics in coming decades. (In fact, they probably hold Bill Clinton's fate in their hands right now.) The author deftly weaves statistics into his book, documenting a convincing argument. As someone who loves cities, I can't say that I'm pleased with this book, but I do believe what it says.

A compelling (if unsettling) view of the future

This book describes an America that is frankly unappealing, one in which politicians pander to suburban whims, abandoning any pretense of concern about our cities. And yet, who can argue with this analysis? Thomas makes his points cleanly and skillfully, expertly weaving text and statistics. The result is a compelling vision of the 21st century, a must-read for politicians and all others involved in the political world.