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Killing Sydney

The Fight for a City's Soul
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( 121 ratings, 21 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Killing Sydney by Elizabeth Farrelly is a compelling exploration of the future of urban living through the lens of Sydney, a city facing unprecedented challenges. Combining her experience as an architectural writer and city councillor, Farrelly examines how communities might survive crises like pandemics, environmental disasters, overcrowding, and the pressures of government and corporate interests. The book serves both as a love letter to Sydney and a warning about political and environmental decline, offering a thoughtful roadmap for the sustainability and resilience of cities worldwide.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is suited to readers interested in urban planning, environmental sustainability, Australian culture, and social politics. It will appeal to those concerned about the future of city living and the impact of governance and development on communities.

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Fairfax columnist, architect and former city councillor Elizabeth Farrelly presents a love song to the city of Sydney and an empassioned plea for its protection.

Fairfax columnist, architect and former city councillor Elizabeth Farrelly presents a love song to the city of Sydney and an empassioned plea for its protection.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Presents serious issues in a way which neither patronises or mystifies the lay reader. – Paul Keating on Three Houses

A blueprint for the future of our city in a radically changing world.

Columnist Elizabeth Farrelly brings her unique perspective as architectural writer and former city councillor to a burning question for our times: how will we live in the future? Can our communities survive pandemic, environmental disaster, overcrowding, government greed, and big business?

Using her own adopted city of Sydney, she creates a roadmap for urban living and analyses the history of cities themselves to study why and how we live together, now and into the future.

Killing Sydney is part-lovesong, part-warning: little by little, our politics are becoming debased and our environment degraded. The tipping point is close. Can the home we love survive?

Praise for Killing Sydney

If you believe that Elizabeth Farrelly is expressing your long-held concerns about the state of our governments, our cities, and our environment in her Sydney Morning Herald Saturday articles, then I encourage you to get Killing Sydney and have a month of Saturdays in the one book. That's what I'll do because I most often strongly agree! – Councillor Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney

This is an important book for all Aussies! Written with passion, beautiful prose, and insightful knowledge. Read and weep. More than ever we need to push pause on development and so-called "progress". Go Elizabeth! – Di Morrissey AM

Great cities need great champions. Sydney needs Elizabeth Farrelly. – Adam Spencer

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760552589

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 January 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: Picador Australia

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 155.0mm

Height: 233.0mm

Weight: 476g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Dr Elizabeth Farrelly trained in architecture and philosophy, practiced in Auckland, London and Bristol, holds a PhD in urbanism from the University of Sydney, and is an Associate Professor (Practice) at the University of NSW Graduate School of Urbanism. She was born in Dunedin, New Zealand but has made Sydney her home since the late 1980s. She is the author of several books, including Three Houses - a monograph on renowned architect Glenn Murcutt - is a Walkley-shortlisted journalist, critic and essayist, served as a Councillor for the City of Sydney from 1991 to 1995, and her portrait by Mirra Whale was a finalist in the 2015 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

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