In this book authors assess sprawl's costs to society, be they ecological, economic, aesthetic, or social. It is a lively, thorough, critical lament, and an entertaining lesson on the distinctions between postwar suburbia-characterized by housing clusters, strip shopping centers, office parks, and parking lots-and the traditional neighborhoods that were built as a matter of course until mid-century. It is an indictment of the entire development community, including governments, for the fact that America no longer builds towns. Most important, though, it is that rare book that also offers solutions.

Table of Contents
PREFACE TO THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
INTRODUCTION
1 WHAT IS SPRAWL, AND WHY?
TWO WAYS TO GROW
THE FIVE COMPONENTS OF SPRAWL
A BRIEF HISTORY OF SPRAWL
WHY VIRGINIA BEACH IS NOT ALEXANDRIA
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS VERSUS SPRAWL PLANS
2 THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
WHY TRAFFIC IS CONGESTED
WHEN NEARBY IS STILL FAR AWAY
THE CONVENIENCE STORE VERSUS THE CORNER STORE
THE SHOPPING CENTER VERSUS MAIN STREET
THE OFFICE PARK VERSUS MAIN STREET
USELESS AND USEFUL OPEN SPACE
WHY CURVING ROADS AND CUL-DE-SACS DO NOT MAKE MEMORABLE PLACES
3 THE HOUSE THAT SPRAWL BUILT
THE ODDITY OF AMERICAN HOUSING
PRIVATE REALM VERSUS PUBLIC REALM
THE SEGREGATION OF SOCIETY BY INCOME
TWO ILLEGAL TYPES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TWO FORGOTTEN RULES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THE MIDDLE-CLASS HOUSING CRISIS
4 THE PHYSICAL CREATION OF SOCIETY
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF A SOCIAL DECLINE
DRIVERS VERSUS PEDESTRIANS
PREREQUISITES FOR STREET LIFE
5 THE AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION MESS
THE HIGHWAYLESS TOWN AND THE TOWNLESS HIGHWAY
WHY ADDING LANES MAKES TRAFFIC WORSE
THE AUTOMOBILE SUBSIDY
6 SPRAWL AND THE DEVELOPER
THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DEVELOPER
THE INSIDIOUS INFLUENCE OF THE MARKET EXPERTS
QUESTIONABLE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
STRUGGLES WITH THE HOMEBUILDERS
A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS’ ANNUAL CONVENTION
7 THE VICTIMS OF SPRAWL
CUL-DE SAC KIDS
SOCCER MOMS
BORED TEENAGERS
STRANDED ELDERLY
WEARY COMMUTERS
BANKRUPT MUNICIPALITIES
THE IMMOBILE POOR
8 THE CITY AND THE REGION
THE POSSIBILITY OF GOOD SUBURBS
SUBURBS THAT HELP THE CITY
THE EIGHT STEPS OF REGIONAL PLANNING
THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT AS A MODEL
9 THE INNER CITY
THINKING OF THE CITY IN TERMS OF ITS SUBURBAN COMPETITION
THE AMENITY PACKAGE
CIVIC DECORUM
PHYSICAL HEALTH
RETAIL MANAGEMENT
MARKETING
INVESTMENT SECURITY
THE PERMITTING PROCESS
10 HOW TO MAKE A TOWN
REASONS NOT TO, AND REASONS TO DO SO ANYWAY
REGIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
CONNECTIVITY
MAKING THE MOST OF A SITE
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MAKING TRANSIT WORK
THE STREETS
THE BUILDINGS
PARKING
THE INEVITABLE QUESTION OF STYLE
A NOTE FOR ARCHITECTS
11 WHAT IS TO BE DONE
THE VICTORY MYTH
THE ROLE OF POLICY
MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
STATE GOVERNMENT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ARCHITECTS
CITIZENS
SUBURBAN NATION
Acclaim for SUBURBAN NATION
APPENDIX A : THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST
APPENDIX B : THE CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISM
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SOURCES OF ILLUSTRATIONS
INDEX

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