Against the Smart City

Against the Smart City examines the ideology behind "smart city" initiatives promoted by major technology companies. The book focuses on marketing materials and proposals from IBM, Cisco, and Siemens for urban development projects in Rio de Janeiro, Songdo, and Masdar City. Greenfield analyzes the language and assumptions in smart city promotional materials to reveal their underlying logic and worldview. The text deconstructs claims about efficiency, optimization, and technological solutions to urban problems. Through detailed critique of specific smart city projects and their documentation, the book challenges the notion that algorithms and sensors can effectively manage urban life. The investigation extends beyond individual cases to question fundamental ideas about cities, technology, and human behavior. The book serves as a critical framework for understanding the intersection of corporate interests, urban planning, and digital technology in the 21st century. Its arguments connect to broader debates about surveillance, democracy, and the role of computation in public space.

Readers note this is more of a long essay than a full book, with most describing it as a focused critique of corporate "smart city" initiatives like IBM's Smarter Cities and Songdo, South Korea. Readers appreciated: - Clear breakdown of the flaws in tech companies' smart city visions - Research and historical context provided - Accessible writing style for a complex topic Common criticisms: - Too short for the price ($4.99 for 48 pages) - Focuses heavily on critiquing marketing materials rather than real-world implementations - Some found it overly negative without offering solutions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (86 ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (12 ratings) Several readers mentioned they would have preferred a full-length book treatment of the subject. One Goodreads reviewer said it "reads like an extended blog post rather than a polished book." Multiple Amazon reviewers noted it works best as an introduction to smart city criticism rather than a comprehensive analysis.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs A critique of modernist urban planning that examines how cities function from the perspective of streets, neighborhoods, and communities.

Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott An analysis of how governments' attempts to simplify and standardize cities through top-down planning can lead to failures in urban development.

The New Dark Age by James Bridle An examination of how technology's complexity and opacity affects contemporary urban life and decision-making processes.

Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace by Lawrence Lessig A study of how digital architecture and code shape behavior and regulate society in ways similar to urban infrastructure.

Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life by Adam Greenfield A deeper exploration of how emerging technologies transform urban spaces and human interactions within cities.

🏙️ The book was originally published as a Kindle single in 2013, marking one of the early critical examinations of the "smart city" concept in an accessible format. 🔍 Author Adam Greenfield previously worked as Nokia's head of design direction for user interface and services, bringing unique insider perspective to his critique of tech-centric urban planning. 📱 The book specifically challenges IBM, Cisco, and Siemens' visions of the smart city, examining how their corporate interests shape their urban development proposals. 🌆 Songdo, South Korea—one of the primary cases discussed in the book—was built from scratch as a smart city at a cost of $40 billion, yet struggled to attract residents despite its technological innovations. 📊 The work presciently warned about issues that would later become major concerns in urban planning, including surveillance capitalism, data privacy, and the outsourcing of municipal governance to tech companies.