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pp. 231, “”This book,” says the opening of Jane Jacobs’ Deathand Life of Great American Cities, “is an attack on current citybuilding and rebuilding.” Decades later, the ideas put forth in one of themost important books of the 20th century continue to resonate. In JaneJacobs: Urban Visionary, journalist Alice Sparberg Alexiou deconstructs JaneJacobs’ richly packed life of ideas and social action, offering a fluid andengaging synthesis of meticulously researched observation and analysis.Alexiou traces Jacobs’ move from Scranton, Pennsylvania, toNew York City and the controversy that erupted when she dared to take onconventional urban planning wisdom with her classic Death and Life.Her ideas changed the way we think about cities. She protested then-currenturban renewal practices and championed the “sidewalk ballet”—thefragile meeting of buildings, streets and people—threatened by the building ofhighways and the tearing down of working neighbourhoods. Jacobs moved to Canadain the early 1970s and embarke  on Toronto-saving campaigns, helping topreserve Old City Hall and Union Station. She was also instrumental inpreventing the construction of the Spadina Expressway, which would have cut aswath through Toronto’s Annex and other essential neighbourhoods.Jane Jacobs is a tribute to the ideas of the award-winningand inspirational thinker, writer and activist.”