Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention

In 'Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention', Ben Wilson offers a captivating tour of cities famous and forgotten. The book is a synthesis of the history of the city and suburbia in terms of built form and transportation but primarily focuses on the activities that they support. The narrative takes you from the very first city, Uruk, to modern-day Lagos, and spans thousands of years and places around the globe. Wilson uses art forms to illustrate themes, exploring New York City skyscrapers through the camera lens, or Parisian isolation through impressionist paintings. The book also discusses themes such as climate change, resilience to crisis, and cities' abilities to spark human creativity.