A deliberate plug

omro · #1 Posted **Feb 21, 2009, 10:24 AM**

Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt

This is a deliberate plug.

An american friend of mine wrote this book, he's a professor at the university of Chicago. Not sure if it's at all relevant for Hamiltonians, but I'm certainly looking forward to reading my copy when it arrives.

Quote:

Product Description

In this book, Sean Safford compares the recent history of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with that of Youngstown, Ohio. Allentown has seen a noticeable rebound over the course of the past twenty years. Facing a collapse of its steel-making firms, its economy has reinvented itself by transforming existing companies, building an entrepreneurial sector, and attracting inward investment. Youngstown was similar to Allentown in its industrial history, the composition of its labor force, and other important variables, and yet instead of adapting in the face of acute economic crisis, it fell into a mean race to the bottom.

Challenging various theoretical perspectives on regional socioeconomic change, Why the Garden Club Couldn’t Save Youngstown argues that the structure of social networks among the cities’ economic, political, and civic leaders account for the divergent trajectories of post-industrial regions. It offers a probing historical explanation for the decline, fall, and unlikely rejuvenation of the Rust Belt. Emphasizing the power of social networks to shape action, determine access to and control over information and resources, define the contexts in which problems are viewed, and enable collective action in the face of externally generated crises, this book points toward present-day policy prescriptions for the ongoing plight of mature industrial regions in the U.S. and abroad.

emge · #2 Posted **Feb 22, 2009, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by omro

Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt

This is a deliberate plug.

An american friend of mine wrote this book, he's a professor at the university of Chicago. Not sure if it's at all relevant for Hamiltonians, but I'm certainly looking forward to reading my copy when it arrives.

interesting, thanks.

Want to loan your copy to another ssp-er when you're done with it?

omro · #3 Posted **Feb 22, 2009, 10:07 PM**

Sure, though no dog-earing - as I know the author I'm hoping to get my copy signed - though not entirely sure when I'm going to get the time or money to visit Chicago in the near future and I don't think he's visiting London again before I leave

highwater · #4 Posted **Feb 23, 2009, 2:05 PM**

Road trip!

highwater · #5 Posted **Feb 23, 2009, 2:07 PM**

Seriously though, thanks for letting us know about this book. I've been interested in Youngstown ever since I first read about them bulldozing abandoned neighbourhoods. Very sad what has happened there.

omro · #6 Posted **Feb 23, 2009, 8:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwater

Seriously though, thanks for letting us know about this book. I've been interested in Youngstown ever since I first read about them bulldozing abandoned neighbourhoods. Very sad what has happened there.

I thought it would be interesting for people on here, seeing it's about the effects of the declining steel industry and how one city prospered and one died. After I've read my copy, once it's arrived, I'll post a review.

I'm expecting it to be very interesting. I would expect nothing less of my friend, Dr Safford

omro · #7 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 6:20 PM**

Apparently Chapters have it.

Chapters

Though Amazon.ca is much cheaper, but it's not available through that yet.

Amazon.ca

highwater · #8 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 6:43 PM**

$40 (ouch) at Bryan Prince, but they can get it in in a couple of weeks.

omro · #9 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 6:50 PM**

Well... if the UK can get it, am sure amazon.com can get it to Canada.

It's weird, Amazon.ca is crap compared to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

sofasurfer · #10 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by omro

It's weird, Amazon.ca is crap compared to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

My former co-workers in England bought me an amazon.ca voucher that I still have some credit on, and I've been struggling to use it over the months on stuff that comes up on my radar and I actually *want*.... I was searching amazon.ca for this after mates in the UK gave me the heads-up on it. Nada.

Grr.

omro · #11 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 7:31 PM**

*sigh*

FairHamilton · #12 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 10:00 PM**

I ordered the book, and here's the estimated shipping time from Amazon.ca, lol.

Delivery estimate: Jun 19 2009 - Jun 24 2009
Shipping estimate for these items: Jun 15 2009

I'm confident if the book is available in Canada the 'pre-order' status is only because the book status has not been updated in Amazon's system. I'll monitor for a couple of days and if looks the same then I'm going to send them an email 'heads up'.

omro · #13 Posted **Feb 24, 2009, 10:48 PM**

Mine's due for delivery between 26th Feb and 10th March.

I doubt the book will be bad. If it is, I shall be mean to Sean.

And it will give you time to cancel it.

omro · #14 Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 2:11 PM**

My copy arrived today. I will try and find some time to read it quickly and write some form of book review.

Cortlandgirl79 · #15 Posted **Mar 9, 2009, 4:32 AM**

If you want to read a good book on Youngstown, check out Steeltown U.S.A. It's a favorite of mine.

omro · #16 Posted **Mar 9, 2009, 8:39 AM**

Will do, will be interesting to get some more context.

I haven't actually read Sean's book yet. I've been so busy getting ready for my move that actually sitting down to read a book hasn't been possible. I hope to have time this week though, as the initial craziness is dying down.

omro · #17 Posted **Mar 22, 2009, 2:27 PM**

America's Downsized Cities

Quote:

The plight of these cities is double edged. A lackluster reputation often keeps potential newcomers away, while young adults born there tend to flee because of a lack of a diverse range of opportunities. However, many of those born and bred in the area do return when its time to "settle down," according to Foster.

Yet Sean C. Safford, a business professor at the University of Chicago and author of Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt, says that it has a lot more to do with a area's business infrastructure than its "ick" factor.

Youngstown, for example, "had an economy that basically grew up in another era," he says. When the steel industry began its decline in the 1970s, Youngstown moved on to another failing industry: autos. The few companies that have adapted to the new economy have kept globally competitive by outsourcing, which is good for their finances but bad for Youngstown.