growing, growing, grown

[lauralh]

I just finished The Economy of Cities, which is totally awesome if just a bit dated. Even the dated parts are awesome because you see what could have been done 30 years ago and still could be. Anyway the basic premise is that agriculture arose from cities, not the other way around, which actually makes so much sense that you wonder if you ever even knew how the other way round worked. And from there she lays out wonderful paths from which the gathering of people in a central place led to trade, manufacturing, and banking. And mass production and government. And why those last two things are bad in excess (Detroit anyone?). John, this one's for you.