Happy City

Happy City by Charles Montgomery is a captivating exploration of what truly makes a place worth living in. Journeying from the bustling streets of Copenhagen to the revitalised corners of Bogotá, Montgomery unveils how densely-populated urban areas can enhance our health, sanity, and overall happiness. This insightful book will transform your perspective on city living, providing new hope for the future of urban environments. Montgomery delves into how the 21st century presents an opportunity to rethink urban life. Amidst concerns of sprawling cities and disconnected communities, Happy City reveals that the secrets to happier urban living may already be within our grasp. But what exactly makes a city a joy to live in? Through vivid storytelling and thorough research, Montgomery shows it's not the wealth of your neighbours or the pleasantness of the weather that matters most. Travelling to cities like Atlanta, Vancouver, and Bogotá, he meets the innovative minds at the forefront of urban transformation. Discover how a visionary Colombian mayor converted perilous streets into an urban cycling paradise. Learn from a Danish architect who integrated the charm of medieval Tuscan towns into modern-day Copenhagen. See how New York City's transport commissioner reimagined Times Square, turning it from a gridlocked chaos into a pedestrian-friendly oasis. Happy City combines lessons from these remarkable stories with insights from brain science and urban experimentation. The book offers practical solutions that anyone can implement to enhance their quality of life. It proves that small, thoughtful changes in urban planning and design can significantly impact our daily happiness.

'Do we live in neighbourhoods that make us happy? Montgomery encourages us to ask without embarrassment, and to think intelligently about the answer' - The New York Times Book Review

'Excellent . . . Montgomery believes in the importance of smart town planning and Happy City is a compendium of its major ideas' - Will Dean, Independent

Charles Montgomery is a journalist and urban experimentalist from Vancouver, Canada. His writings on urban planning, psychology, culture, and history have graced the pages of magazines and journals across three continents. He is also the author of another acclaimed book and was a founding member of the BMW Guggenheim Lab. Happy City is not just a book; it's a blueprint for smarter, happier city living. Dive into its pages and be inspired to make your city a better place for everyone.