Last Harvest: From Cornfield to New Town

Always eloquent and illuminating, Rybczynski looks at this “neotraditional” project, with its houses built close together to encourage a sense of intimacy and community, and explains the trends in American domestic architecture — from where we place our kitchens and fences to why our bathrooms get larger every year.

As Publishers Weekly said, “Rybczynski provides historical and cultural perspective in a style reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell, debunking the myth of urban sprawl and explaining American homeowners’ preference for single-family dwellings. But Rybczynski also excels at ‘the close-up,’ John McPhee’s method of reporting, where every interview reads like an intimate conversation, and a simple walk down neighborhood sidewalks can reveal a wealth of history.”

Last Harvest is a charming must-read for anyone interested in where we live today — and why — by one of our most acclaimed and original cultural writers.