Planning Books

New York City Zoning Map

Watch: Why and How to Abolish Zoning

Author M. Nolan Gray and Planetizen Editorial Director James Brasuell recently discussed zoning abolition and other concepts discussed in Gray's book, "Arbitrary Lines," published recently by Island Press.

July 26, 2022 - Island Press via YouTube

Cover graphic for Arbitrary Lines book

Book Review: Arbitrary Lines

In addition to attacking zoning laws' limitations on housing, Gray argues that zoning fails to limit nuisances.

July 18, 2022 - Michael Lewyn

Indian Trail, North Carolina

Four ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’ Zoning Reforms

An excerpt from the latest book on zoning argues for four approaches to reform that can immediately improve land use regulation in the United States.

June 26, 2022 - M. Nolan Gray

The New York Public Library's stone lions Patience and Fortitude have donned face masks to remind New Yorkers to wear face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021

Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.

November 26, 2021 - James Brasuell

Green Belt

New Book, 'Land,' Searches for Solid Ground

Simon Winchester's new book, Land, brings global scope to the concepts of land use.

January 19, 2021 - Josh Stephens

Book in the Park

The Top Urban Planning Books of 2020

The public health crisis of the coronavirus pandemic upended all the normal day-today routines this year. At least there are plenty of great urban planning books to read.

November 30, 2020 - Josh Stephens

Westside Los Angeles

Searching for the 'Urban Mystique'

An excerpt from a new book by Josh Stephens, "The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles, and Beyond," published by Solimar Books.

October 29, 2020 - Josh Stephens

Downtown Los Angeles

'The Affordable City' Offers Solutions for the U.S. Housing Affordability Crisis

An excerpt from the new book by Shane Phillips, "The Affordable City," published by Island Press.

October 21, 2020 - Shane Phillips

Black LIves Matter

Valuing Black Lives and Black Cities

Andre M. Perry’s "Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities" reveals the web of historical and contemporary socioeconomic barriers that maintain the racial wealth divide.

October 21, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Paris Street

Is it Time to Revive the Pattern Language?

Software and other fields have made brilliant progress with the pattern language methodology, while built environment fields lag badly, mired in parochial debates over the massive book that invented the methodology.

April 21, 2020 - Michael Mehaffy

Montgomery County

How We Got Here

In "A History of Street Networks," Lawrence Aurbach discusses the intellectual movements driving the growth of suburban-style street design.

March 16, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Reading Viaduct

'The Art of Classic Planning' Critiques a 'Century of Bad Planning'

A book review of a book published this year with the title, "The Art of Classic Planning: Building Beautiful and Enduring Communities," offers stinging criticism of the past and present of planning.

March 13, 2020 - The American Conservative

Brooklyn Bridge Park

50 Years of 'Design With Nature'

Ian McHarg's groundbreaking book was published 50 years ago.

July 10, 2019 - WHYY

Books

A Back-to-School Reading List of Books About Cities

2016 has produced an eclectic, imitative mix of titles to the urban library.

September 15, 2016 - Josh Stephens

The Stitch

Planetizen Week in Review: September 3, 2016

Books! Maps! Data! Renderings! What more could you want from one week?

September 3, 2016 - Planetizen

Boston Public Library

The Mayor of Boston Suggests a List of Planning Books to Prepare for 'Boston 2030'

What better way to prepare for the city of Boston's first comprehensive planning process in over 50 years that a list of some of the best books on the subject of planning?

August 29, 2016 - Boston.com

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.