Ideas change everything

The ghastly tragedy of the suburbs

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James Howard Kunstler |

TED2004

• February 2004

In James Howard Kunstler's view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about.

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Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

In James Howard Kunstler's view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

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About the speaker

James Howard Kunstler

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James Howard Kunstler may be the world’s most outspoken critic of suburban sprawl. He believes the end of the fossil fuels era will soon force a return to smaller-scale, agrarian communities -- and an overhaul of the most destructive features of postwar society.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.