Reviews for Praxis

The average rating for Praxis based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-04-05 00:00:00 Andrew Loughran I have enjoyed David Bell's and Mark Jayne's research and writing throughout my career. This fine edited collection is able to 'hold together,' even while recognizing the disparate nature of the case studies. This unity is of great tribute to the editors who have been able to craft an argument about small cities and 'development,' in the many connotations of this word. Debates are presented about the multiple modes and forms of small cities. There is an outstanding study of small city tourism in Singapore by T.C. Chang. But the most fascination section is Part Two, investigating "The Urban hierrachy and competitive advantage." Most impressively explored is the consequence of competition between cities for talent and businesses, and the impact of this hierarchy on small cities. There is also a productive argument throughout the book that what works for medium-sized cities may not be functional in small cities. Indeed the lure of development and 'creative cities' - as fostered by Richard Florida - may not only waste time and money, but destroy the 'lifestyle advantages' of smaller cities. The last section - "Identity,lifestyle and forms of sociability" - is probably the weakest, caused by the lack of theorization of both 'lifestyle' and 'community.' Also, an absence in this entire book - which may have corrected the problem in this last section - is a discussion of the small cities based around and through agriculture. Hamilton in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Napa in the United States and Margaret River/Pemberton in Australia are clear examples. In these circumstances the 'lifestyle factors' mesh with questions of sustainability, walkability and the slow food 'movement.' This area may be worthwhile for further discussion. A fine book that continues the fascinating and provocative research of both David Belland Mark Jayne. A productive and important addition to the city imaging literature.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-10-09 00:00:00 Amy Moye ESPAÑOL: Excelente diálogo de Cicerón, que habla por boca de Catón el viejo. Veamos algunas de las citas más señeras para mí: [La vejez.] Hasta que es alcanzada, todos la desean; y en llegando a ella, le echan la culpa de muchos achaques. ¡Tanta es la inconstancia y el desconcierto de la necedad humana! Dicen que se les entró en casa más pronto de lo que pensaban. [El viejo] es de mejor condición que el mozo, porque lo que el mozo espera, ya el viejo lo consiguió. El joven anhela una larga vida, que el anciano ha vivido ya. Porque cuando [el fin] llega, lo que ha pasado se fue como el humo; y sólo nos queda lo que hayamos logrado con la virtud y la práctica del bien. Ennio [escribió]: "nadie me honre con llanto cuando yo muera..." Que no se debe llorar una muerte a la que sigue la inmortalidad. Y si algún dios me ofreciese volver a la niñez... rehusaría decididamente: anduve ya casi mi camino y no quisiera volver al punto de donde partí. Y si después de la muerte - como han sostenido filósofos insignificantes - nada sintiere, no temo que los filósofos que murieron se rían de mí. ENGLISH: Excellent dialogue by Cicero, who speaks through the voice of Cato the Elder. Let us see a few of the best quotes (for me): [Old age.] Until it is reached, everyone wants it; and in arriving at it, they blame it for many ailments. Such is the inconstancy and bewilderment of human folly! They say it came to them sooner than they thought. [The old man] is in a better condition than the youth, because what the youth expects, the old man already has. The youth longs for a long life, which the old man has already lived. When [the end] arrives, what has happened goes like smoke; and we only have left what we achieved with virtue and the practice of goodness. Ennius [wrote]: "Let no one honor me with tears when I die..." One should not mourn a death followed by immortality. And if some god offered me to return to childhood... I would resolutely refuse: I have almost finished my way and do not want to return to the starting point. And if after death - as insignificant philosophers have argued - there is nothing, I have not fear that those dead philosophers will laugh at me.