The Reluctant Metropolis
     by Bill Fulton

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In twelve engaging essays, William Fulton chronicles the history of urban planning in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, tracing the legacy of short-sighted political and financial gains that has resulted in a vast urban region on the brink of disaster. Looking at such diverse topics as shady real estate speculations, the construction of the Los Angeles subway, the battle over the future of South Central L.A. after the 1992 riots, and the emergence of Las Vegas as "the new Los Angeles," Fulton offers a fresh perspective on the city's epic sprawl.

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Praise for The Reluctant Metropolis

"William Fulton is the Raymond Chandler of Los Angeles real estate."

- Kevin Starr

California State Librarian and author of Material Dreams: Los Angeles through the 1920s

"A surprisingly lively case study of the battles and alliances of politics, business and people that formed—or deformed—a great American city."

- Publishers Weekly

"One of the most entertaining and thought-provoking books I have read in a long time about urban growth and change... Important reading for anyone interested in contemporary urban development. [Fulton] tells a story that may sound uniquely Los Angeles, but really applies to every growing city in America."

- Richard Peiser

APA Journal