For anyone who loves cities but has forgotten why, this compelling book offers hope for a richer and more civilized America. John Norquist firmly believes that the American city is on the verge of a renaissance--as long as urban leaders and citizens alike take responsibility for their own futures, rather than relying on federal handouts. In The Wealth of Cities he explores how the natural advantages of cities--as centers of commerce and culture--have been systematically undermined by a half-century of ill-conceived housing, education, transportation, crime, welfare, and environmental...