Product Description

Malcolm Cowley called Lewis Mumford "the last of the great humanists," and indeed, in more than six decades of writing, Mumford made contributions to history, philosophy, literature, art, architectural criticism, and urban planning. The author of some thirty books, Mumford produced a body of work almost unequaled in the twentieth century for its range and richness. A New York Times Notable Book, Donald Miller's engagingly written biography reveals Mumford's full and fascinating life. Based on ten years of research and unprecedented access to original and private papers, Miller penetrates Mumford's reserved public persona and takes in the complete man, his works as well as his days, as he struggles to transform the world -- and his own life -- in decades marked by unparalleled change. "Miller is an excellent critical guide to Mumford's voluminous writing." -- The New Yorker "A gracefully written biography." -- Francesca McKeon, San Francisco Chronicle "With this large, large-spirited life of Lewis Mumford ... Miller takes his place in the first rank of contemporary American biographers." -- David McCullough

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #516341 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 672 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780802139344
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
One of the world's foremost experts on cities, architecture and the impact of technology on civilization, Mumford is also a prophet (a Jonah, as he thinks of himself) who took early stands against McCarthyism and the Vietnam War, who has thundered against social and political abuses and has constantly warned of the dangers of rampant urban expansion. Yet, for all this outspokenness and his 30-odd books--which include Technics and Civilization , his masterwork The City in History and an autobiography--he has remained an elusive figure. In this solid first biography--a 10-year labor based on the massive Mumford archive, both public and hitherto private--Miller ( The New American Radicalism) provides a rich and balanced portrait of the man, his personality, family life, friendships, achievements and, above all, the ideas that have been his primary building blocks. The volume makes it easy to understand why Malcolm Cowley called Mumford "the last of the great humanists."
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
This extensive biography, written with access to Mumford's private and personal papers, discusses his books and thoughts on cities, city and regional planning, culture, civilization, and humanism. But the key focus is on the intimate details of his personal development, particularly his struggles with his rigid, highly disciplined personality, and his sexual life, especially the affairs that brought him emotional release and fed his creative energies but threatened his marriage. While Miller is revealing, sympathetic, and reasonable on these latter aspects of Mumford's life, he treats Mumford's ideas in rather simple fashion, largely omitting current thinking on key issues and only rarely and briefly quoting directly from his works. (When Mumford is quoted, he lights up the page.) Extensive and useful, but less penetrating than one might hope.
- Richard Kuczkowski, Dominican Coll., Blauvelt, N.Y.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Fine Biography
All in all, this is a decent biography of Mumford, who will probably be remembered as America's last true renaissance man. One major flaw though, is that the book really bogs down about halfway through with way too much information about Mumford's many extramarital affairs. It would have been better off to spend more time on his writings and other work.

An untidy but rich life.
Donald Miller has written an exceptionally engaging and perceptive biography of Lewis Mumford, one of America's most capacious and fertile thinkers, exploring not only his exceptional career but the untidy and sometimes tittilating aspects of his personal life.Mumford's obsessive need for women is examined with depth and honesty without sinking into tawdry tabloidism.It is a long book but moves along at the pace of a well written novel.The pity is that Mumford's warnings for America's future were not heeded lending even greater relevance to Ralph Waldo Emerson's depiction of late 19th century America, "Things are in the saddle and ride mankind" .

If You Need to Read a 500 Page Mumford Bio...
Should you feel compelled to read 500 odd pages on the life of Mumford, this is the book for you.

Ample coverage of his writing and personal life. He was a bit of a jerk to his long suffering wife, but who am I to judge?

The parts on his writing serve as a useful guide to his voluminous writing.

Would have liked more on his relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright.