Jane Jacobs’ book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” initiated a positive transformation of city planning and design immediately after it was published in 1961. Jacobs applies the same transformative wisdom in “Dark Age Ahead,” which, despite its ominous sounding title, describes the five pillars of civilization and the means for preserving them to avoid being added to the wreckage of past civilizations.
It is unfortunate “Dark Age Ahead” was published 20 years ago, well before the GOP threats to democracy felt so imminent. If it was just recently published, “Dark Age Ahead” would be the driving force of editorial commentary on the next election.
The five pillars identified in the book’s first chapter:
1. Community and family (the two are so tightly connected they cannot be considered separately).
2. Higher education.
3. The effective practice of science and science-based technology (again, so tightly connected they cannot be considered separately)
4. Taxes and governmental powers directly in touch with needs and possibilities.
5. Self-policing of the learned professions.
“Dark Age Ahead” could be the culture war peacemaking document and help us dial down the polarizing rhetoric now making productive discussion on major issues virtually impossible. Jacobs offers needed hope for the future to all who are alarmed by the rising right-wing assaults on democracy. The topics presented in “Dark Age Ahead” are presented in a politically neutral manner appropriate for discussion in educational institutions, churches and other public venues.
Dave Conine, Draper