Urban Jungle: The History and Future of Nature in the City

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Description

An eye-opening and urgent re-examination of nature in our cities, from the Sunday Times bestselling winner of the Somerset Maugham Awards Our modern-day cities might seem to represent our separation from the vitality of the natural world. Yet, as Ben Wilson reveals in this invigorating re-examination of urban landscapes across the globe, nature has always been at the heart of the city. Moving from Los Angeles and Delhi to Singapore and Amsterdam, Wilson explores how the bond between humans and nature has oscillated throughout history, and shows that - in a time of climate crisis - a new approach to rewilding may prove to be the city's saviour.

Reviews

Teems with ideas, stories and proposals, presented with charm, eloquence and wit. It is novel and provocative... I was often left wanting more. * The Times *
Awe-inspiring in its scope, Wilson's thrilling immersion in the age-old interconnectedness of city and nature is full of wonder, warning and hope - a rallying cry for urban rewilding. -- Isabella Tree, author of Wilding
Illuminating... Wilson leaves readers with hope about the future of efforts to preserve the ecosystems that surround us, as well as a new perspective that looks beyond the concrete and asphalt when walking along a city's streets. * Daily Mail *
Wilson provides an array of fascinating examples of urban ecology through the ages... Written in an authoritative yet accessible style, Urban Jungle contains a range of intriguing insights. * Literary Review *
Wilson soars like a falcon over global cities on five continents while leading the reader through centuries of history. Full of statistics and eye-catching examples. * Washington Post *

Author Bio

Ben Wilson is the author of six critically acclaimed books, including What Price Liberty, for which he received the Somerset Maugham Award; the Sunday Times bestseller Empire of the Deep; and, most recently, Metropolis. He has worked in television, broadcast on the radio in several countries, and writes for publications such as The Times, Daily Telegraph and Prospect. He lives in Suffolk.