Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles

Sidewalking chronicles David L. Ulin's experiences as a pedestrian in Los Angeles, a city known for its car culture. Through his walks across different neighborhoods, Ulin examines the relationship between people and urban spaces. The book combines personal observations with historical research about L.A.'s development and transformation over time. Ulin documents the city's constant evolution through its architecture, streets, and inhabitants, while reflecting on his own twenty-year history as an Angeleno. His explorations take him through both famous landmarks and overlooked corners of the metropolis, revealing hidden connections and patterns. The text moves between past and present, mixing memoir with cultural commentary and urban theory. The work presents walking as both a physical act and a way of seeing, suggesting that Los Angeles can only be truly understood through direct engagement with its streets and spaces. Through this lens, the book considers broader questions about identity, belonging, and how citizens create meaning within vast urban landscapes.

Readers note this book offers a thoughtful meditation on walking through LA, though some found it too academic and meandering. Positive reviews highlight: - Deep observations about LA's car culture vs pedestrian experience - Historical context and architectural details - Personal anecdotes that ground the analysis - Fresh perspective on a city often dismissed as unwalkable Common criticisms: - Writing style can be dense and verbose - Lacks clear narrative structure - Too much philosophical musing for those seeking practical insights - Some passages feel repetitive Review scores: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (161 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (22 reviews) As one Amazon reviewer stated: "Ulin captures the peculiar poetry of walking in LA, but sometimes gets lost in his own intellectual wanderings." A Goodreads reviewer noted: "The author's meditations occasionally veer into pretentious territory, though his core observations about LA's street-level character remain compelling."

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🌴 Author David L. Ulin moved to Los Angeles in 1991, initially planning a temporary stay, but became so fascinated by the city's complexity that he made it his permanent home. 🏛️ The book was inspired by Ulin's experiences as a book critic for the Los Angeles Times, where he spent countless hours walking the city's streets while wrestling with its reputation as an "unreadable" metropolis. 🚶‍♂️ Unlike traditional travel narratives, Sidewalking focuses on micro-journeys—small walking adventures that reveal hidden connections between seemingly disconnected parts of Los Angeles. 🌇 The text challenges the popular notion that Los Angeles is a city without a center, arguing instead that it has multiple centers that shift and evolve over time. 📚 The book was a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay in 2016, highlighting its contribution to both urban studies and creative nonfiction.