Cities in the Sky

“Barr examines to great effect the dictum ‘all real estate is local,’ exploring the allure of skyscrapers and the global race to boast the world’s tallest towers in cities from London to Dubai to Shenzhen, China… . a welcome addition to the rich canon of books on the topic.” —Wall Street Journal
“Each time crossing over the Bandra-Worli Sea link, my eyes get locked in to admire Mumbai’s skyline of towers, wrapped in glass … Jason Barr’s new book Cities in the Sky makes them come alive with the personalities and constraints of the people who build and use them.” —Business Standard
“Fascinating.” —Daily Mail
“With a global view and his eyes cast skyward, Barr provides an enjoyable, expansive study of a subject he loves.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Informative … for architecture buffs, Barr’s meticulous research is worth checking out.” —Publishers Weekly
“Compelling … Barr’s book, a result of extensive research, is both entertaining and educational, dissecting concepts like the ‘bedrock myth’ and the ‘status effect.’ Most importantly, it articulates the enduring significance of skyscrapers in cities, making it a valuable read for anyone keen to understand the dynamics behind our city skylines.” —Stefan Al, author of Supertall: How the World’s Tallest Buildings Are Reshaping Our Cities and Our Lives
“A captivating exploration of skyscrapers, filled with insider stories of how such buildings came to be and what their future might hold… . Barr masterfully weaves together the history, myths, economics, and engineering behind the most iconic structures across the world’s skylines. More than just a history lesson, Cities in the Sky is about the ambition, ingenuity, and vision that encourage us to build higher and bolder.” —Grady Hillhouse, creator of Practical Engineering and author of Engineering in Plain Sight
“Jason M. Barr deftly walks the reader through the development of the skyscraper—from 1880s Chicago to present day Asia—and the issues that either prevented or made possible their heavens-aspiring construction. Barr’s easy-going, conversational writing style makes his discussion of topics like engineering, community impact, and his vision of future cities as engaging to the layman as it is to the urban planner, economist, engineer and architect. Cities in the Sky is a fascinating and informative read.” —Tom Miller, author of Seeking New York: The Stories Behind the Historic Architecture of Manhattan—One Building at a Time

Jason M. Barr is a professor of economics at Rutgers University-Newark. One of the world’s foremost experts on the economics of skyscrapers, he is the author of Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan Skyscrapers and has had his research featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, Curbed, and Architectural Record. A Long Island native, Barr received his BA from Cornell University, his MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston, and his PhD from Columbia University. He has also taught at Dartmouth College and Columbia University. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, StarTrek.com, Dezeen.com, Scientific American, and Irish Independent. He currently writes a blog about skyscrapers, cities, and economics. His favorite skyscraper is the Empire State Building.

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