Urban Social Geography: An Introduction

This is a highly topical book, examining both the theory that underpins urban social geography and an examination of recent critical work, presented in a way that is clear and accessible for students.

The new 5th edition of this highly respected and long-running text builds and improves upon the successful structure, thought-provoking writing style and clear presentation of previous editions. Tracing urban social geography through its theoretical underpinnings to current debates, this new edition takes account of recent critical work while also presenting the foundations and development of the subject. It explicitly relates key issues to contemporary cultural and economic life in cities, producing coverage that is stimulating, relevant and engaging for students.

Key Features

• Key questions and concepts for each chapter to help students identify and apply the key themes

• Written in a lively and accessible style designed to enthuse learners to study urban social geography in further depth

• Chapter summaries provide revision and reflection opportunities, annotated further reading encourages further investigation

• Highly illustrated throughout with new photographs and informative diagrams and tables

• Extensive glossary of key terms highlighted in the text and elaborated upon at the end

New to edition

• New boxed features identifying key thinkers, key debates and key trends

• New final chapter covering post-modernism, film and the city, and the future of urban social geography

• Key film lists provide pointers for cinematic coverage of urban social geography

• Companion website containing annotated weblinks, essay questions and project assignments

This text will be essential reading for students of urban geography, social geography, planning, sociology and of key interest more broadly within human geography and the social sciences.

Paul Knox is University Distinguished Professor and Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech.  His recent books include Urbanization (Prentice Hall, 2005, with L. McCarthy) and The Geography of the World Economy (Routledge, 2003, with J. Agnew and L. McCarthy).

Steven Pinch is a Professor of Human Geography and Deputy Head of the School of Geography at the University of Southampton.  His recent research has focused on the relationships between knowledge and competitive advantage in the British motor sport industry and has been published in Environment and Planning, Geoforum, Journal of Economic Geography and Regional Studies.