Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age
- Downloads：4093
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- Create Date：2022-01-18 03:19:10
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Annalee Newitz
- ISBN：0393882454
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Ane
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Amazing book about four lost cities， archaeological discoveries， people's lifestyle in these cities and many other interesting insights。 Mind-blowing to think that a city with a million inhabitants could prosper many thousands of years ago。 Worth reading Amazing book about four lost cities， archaeological discoveries， people's lifestyle in these cities and many other interesting insights。 Mind-blowing to think that a city with a million inhabitants could prosper many thousands of years ago。 Worth reading 。。。more
Allisonperkel
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Wonderful story of humanity as told via 4 cities that were never truly lost。
Raunak
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I mostly loved this one， especially the section of Cahokia which was wonderfully detailed， and would highly recommend with some caveats。 The insights into city life and the nitty gritty of archaeological dig sites was very well done！ The biggest annoyance were the lack of pictures or adequate diagrams。 I would very often get lost within the city descriptions and the hand drawn maps felt somewhat useless。 The other weird thing was the way the description of Cahokia made it feel like it was someho I mostly loved this one， especially the section of Cahokia which was wonderfully detailed， and would highly recommend with some caveats。 The insights into city life and the nitty gritty of archaeological dig sites was very well done！ The biggest annoyance were the lack of pictures or adequate diagrams。 I would very often get lost within the city descriptions and the hand drawn maps felt somewhat useless。 The other weird thing was the way the description of Cahokia made it feel like it was somehow "better" than all the other cities。3½/5， rounded up。 。。。more
Julie
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3。5 stars
Liz
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Was pretty much alternating reading this one with the book about Poe， both equally fascinating。 The author’s “lost” cities turns out to be a sneaky way to attract readers since we have all been enthralled by tales such as Indiana Jones。 Instead it is really about urban centers， how they rise and fall or change to a different structure that better enhance the lives of the inhabitants。 Crucial to today’s grasp of change as caused by climate change and political instability in humanity’s future， it Was pretty much alternating reading this one with the book about Poe， both equally fascinating。 The author’s “lost” cities turns out to be a sneaky way to attract readers since we have all been enthralled by tales such as Indiana Jones。 Instead it is really about urban centers， how they rise and fall or change to a different structure that better enhance the lives of the inhabitants。 Crucial to today’s grasp of change as caused by climate change and political instability in humanity’s future， it is both a cautionary and a hopeful look。 As a Midwesterner I especially was interested in the last section on the Mississippi culture and can only marvel on the change in interpretation from my school days。 Another great read; free ebook from the library。 。。。more
Ashley
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I really liked this book。 I was really disappointed at the lack of photos， but I learned a lot of interesting information about sites I already knew things about， and learned a lot about sites I'd never heard of。 The information was presented in a really approachable way， but I wish there had been photos of the actual sites and not just the site maps at the beginning。 I had to go and Google the things she talked specifically about。 I really liked this book。 I was really disappointed at the lack of photos， but I learned a lot of interesting information about sites I already knew things about， and learned a lot about sites I'd never heard of。 The information was presented in a really approachable way， but I wish there had been photos of the actual sites and not just the site maps at the beginning。 I had to go and Google the things she talked specifically about。 。。。more
Catherine Holloway
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Keeps flipping back and forth between the history of these cities and the experience of interviewing the archeologists excavating them， which is much less interesting。
Eric Vanden Eykel
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A delightful read。 The bits on Pompeii were particularly well done。
Nell
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This book was a fascinating look at four different lost cities， what their societies were like， and why they fell。 Newitz opened with Catalhoyuk， one of the first big cities， in modern-day Turkey， where sidewalks were on the roofs of buildings， and doors dropped you down into a vertical warren of living spaces， dead buried beneath the floors。 From there we traveled to Pompeii。 I loved learning about the city's attitude towards sex （all about it！） and penises （everywhere！）。 Penises were a symbol This book was a fascinating look at four different lost cities， what their societies were like， and why they fell。 Newitz opened with Catalhoyuk， one of the first big cities， in modern-day Turkey， where sidewalks were on the roofs of buildings， and doors dropped you down into a vertical warren of living spaces， dead buried beneath the floors。 From there we traveled to Pompeii。 I loved learning about the city's attitude towards sex （all about it！） and penises （everywhere！）。 Penises were a symbol of pre-Christian good luck -- even the penis symbols had penises on them。 When the city was buried under ash， the support from Rome's government helped Pompeiians （especially freed slaves） start over in other cities， evidence for Newitz's argument that political will can save societies when environmental problems hit them hard。 Cities / societies aren't doomed to collapse the way many assume that they are。 Newitz contrasts this political situation with Angkor， where citizens paid taxes in labor， with a strong sense of duty to their kings。 The kings directed their laborers to build increasingly large and showy reservoirs that ultimately didn't work， because of poor planning and also a long-lasting drought followed by an intense rainy period。 Eventually， most of the citizens moved away to other cities， but some remained in Angkor， challenging the European narrative of the "lost city"。 Finally， Newitz traveled to Illinois， where she participated in ongoing archaeological research into Cahokia， an ancient mound city。 This was a city that seemed to revolve around spirituality， rather than business， with cultural links to many Native American tribes。Overall， I enjoyed reading this book。 Newitz did an incredible job of distilling YEARS of research into one accessible book。 In particular， I loved learning about ancient ways of structuring cities （the Catalhoyuk vertical organization was wild！！）， and Newitz did a nice job of showing the drama amongst modern-day archaeologists， quibbling over how these cities broke down。 My biggest critique is that Newitz's prose could get a little repetitive in its structure -- it was best when she shared about herself personally， helping to break up the rolling， neat pattern of her paragraphs， or when she compared ancient ideas to current cultural touchstones。 Basically I just wanted more personality and more drama。 But I learned so much， and really enjoyed traveling with Newitz。 。。。more
Rachel Roberson
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I've been waiting to read this book almost since it came out。 It FINALLY came to the library on e-book， and I jumped right in。 Newitz is an excellent writer with a compelling focus。 She tells the story of four ancient/early modern cities that essentially stopped being cities and became something else--anything OTHER than "lost。" In fact， I'm surprised she didn't put "lost" in quotation marks in the title， so firm is she on the point these cities didn't really disappear。 This being the case， she I've been waiting to read this book almost since it came out。 It FINALLY came to the library on e-book， and I jumped right in。 Newitz is an excellent writer with a compelling focus。 She tells the story of four ancient/early modern cities that essentially stopped being cities and became something else--anything OTHER than "lost。" In fact， I'm surprised she didn't put "lost" in quotation marks in the title， so firm is she on the point these cities didn't really disappear。 This being the case， she writes about cultural norms， societal structures， environmental impact， etc。 BUT she also intentionally views these cities and their transformations through the lens of the common person when possible rather than the elites。 This makes for an extra-interesting read， especially when learning about Pompeii and Angkor， the two most well-known cities in the book。 I learned a lot of history， but also about historical framing and the choices historians and archeologists make （and have made in the past） about people who came before。 This book is readable and accessible--highly recommended to anyone interested in history， archeology and civic life in general。 。。。more
Richard Becker
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Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz feels like a pile of mattresses you could lay upon for hours， looking up at the clouds and imaging our planet's past civilizations。 At least it would if it weren't for the peas。But let's skip those for annoyments for a minute。 There is so much to learn and love about four remarkable cities， especially within the context of their histories， which is why Four Lost Cities is more like 3。5 stars and not just 3。The story of Catalhpyuk， located in what we think of Tu Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz feels like a pile of mattresses you could lay upon for hours， looking up at the clouds and imaging our planet's past civilizations。 At least it would if it weren't for the peas。But let's skip those for annoyments for a minute。 There is so much to learn and love about four remarkable cities， especially within the context of their histories， which is why Four Lost Cities is more like 3。5 stars and not just 3。The story of Catalhpyuk， located in what we think of Turkey today， started as early as 7，500 BCE with square houses built upon similar abandoned houses until those homes collectively created mounds on two sides of the Carsambra River。 The people who called it home spent much of their lives upon its rooftops and enjoyed a civilization that feels a little more alien than the rest of them。 Pompeii， arguably one of the most famous of the four （at least to people living in the Western world）， may have met with a violent volcanic end but its history is surprisingly modern — or maybe it only feels modern because Roman history is hard-baked into our civilization。 Nevertheless， the preservation moves us well beyond speculation， and Newitz uses it to share some intimate details about Roman society。Equally famous， at least to those who appreciate history， is the capital city of the Khmer Empire， Angkor （also known as Yasodharapura）， which flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries。 At the city center was （as is） the largest religious structure in the world by land area。 And so too， we learn， was the sprawling city itself — rows and rows of dwellings framed by channels and farms carved out of a jungle。 And last but not least， Chokia in North America — a city bigger than Paris in 1050 AD — where East St。 Louis stands today。 It's almost shameful to think American schools don't include any mention of the largest pre-Columbian city in Noth America history — one that made citizens of people as far north as the midwest and as far south as New Orleans。 Evidence at the site suggests some Native Americans did indeed believe in possessing private land and were significantly more settled in some areas。This is all fascinating stuff for anyone who appreciates history， archeology， sociology， etc。 It's incredibly fascinating because Newitz works hard to bring the daily lives of these different people to the forefront — a passion that eclipses her thesis that it's natural for all cities to expand and contract， that municipalities may collapse （usually in a drawn-out whimper） but the larger culture does not， or that urban demand eventually eclipses infrastructure。 In fact， it's only in instances Newitz forces some parallels to the modern world that it feels like she runs too far afield。 No， I don't think college students with debt are not the contemporary equivalent to indentured servants or debt slaves。 It isn't easy to believe that areas with climate disasters never make it back to a GDP baseline — when some cities （and most of Europe） endured worse。 And I don't necessarily think Detriot or New Orleans are necessarily on a path of permanent collapse。 These and other peas feel too much like correlation is mistaken causation。 Conversely， where Newitz picks up another 1/2 star from me is called out in her conclusion。 Cities are the ultimate social experiments。 What they are and what they will be is anybody's guess。 I not only love that， but think it's akin to part of our problems today。 We keep trying to convince ourselves that we can make select parts of a living planet permanent。 On that point and many others， we agree。 But then again， I would have loved fewer pages on the present on more on the past， with more richly painted details about the daily lives of the people who make those four cities home。 。。。more
Ray Grasshoff
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This book explores the development and demise of four "lost" cities: Çatalhöyük （Turkey）， Pompeii （Italy）， Angkor （Cambodia）， and Cahokia （U。S。）。 As the author notes， none of them were ever truly unknown through the centuries， but are described that way today because many Western explorers had never heard of them。 Four Lost Cities focuses on the archeological study of the lives of typical people rather than the elites who were in control of many aspects of the cities。 In fact， the book is at its This book explores the development and demise of four "lost" cities: Çatalhöyük （Turkey）， Pompeii （Italy）， Angkor （Cambodia）， and Cahokia （U。S。）。 As the author notes， none of them were ever truly unknown through the centuries， but are described that way today because many Western explorers had never heard of them。 Four Lost Cities focuses on the archeological study of the lives of typical people rather than the elites who were in control of many aspects of the cities。 In fact， the book is at its best in these descriptions of the archeological record defining the lives of individuals， whether they shop owners， farmers， slaves， freed slaves， or others。 Although informative about urban life in ancient times， the book is weakest when it draws larger conclusions， some with little hard support， about the demise of these cities as it relates to modern cities。 There are correlations， yes， but not so much in the way of solid cause and effect relating to our world today。 。。。more
Diane Henry
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This was great。 Breezy and informative。 Newitz sketches out the lives of these ancient peoples and the continuity with modern people is comforting。 I do wish there had been pictures and illustrations beyond the maps at the beginning of each section。 But otherwise， highly recommend！
Raph
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ah yes， the fall of civilizations，，，，my favorite topic in the worldthis was super well written and exactly On Brand TM for me， and i finished with this inner feeling of gratitude that even if we ARE on the brink of social and environmental collapse， at least in this lifetime， i was one of the blessed human beings to walk the streets of Venice while it still floated above sea level
brian kilpatrick
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Woke tourist visits ancient cities。 Learns nothing。 Some interesting tidbits of information wrapped in meaningless contradictory conclusions。 It is as if a woke tourist visited these ancient sites and forces any information she found into a less than coherent travel book。 It did serve to interest me in more academic works written by the actual explorers of these ancient cities。
Steve
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Well-written， lively look at four cities that were abandoned， for different reasons。 Very interesting for the deep dive into the methodology modern scientists use to uncover the lives of non-elites in earlier times。 Not so interesting for the politically correct commentary， especially in the conclusion。
Zach Van Tol
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This novel is geared towards the human geography-focused reader。 With that being said， it can also be enjoyed by those with an interest in anthropology or history at-large。 The number one takeaway from this book is our tendency to apply modern concepts to civilizations of the past。 This typically-inadequate tendency can lead to misunderstanding how we got to now。
Kendall
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Interesting to an extent， but too much， lost interest
Raman
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Excellent analysis，
Neeny
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Difficult to get through， however， fascinating subject。
Annie
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***Review to come***
Melissa
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I originally started this with the digital galley， but had trouble trying to figure out pronunciation of cities/place names， etc。 so switched over to the audiobook。 That was much better。This is a really interesting pop archaeology/history of four "lost" cities， moving roughly forward in time from pre-history Central Turkey， to turn-of-the-millennium Pompei， to 11th-12th century Cambodia， to pre-colonial Southern Illinois。 It's kind of interesting to consider how each of these cities was abandone I originally started this with the digital galley， but had trouble trying to figure out pronunciation of cities/place names， etc。 so switched over to the audiobook。 That was much better。This is a really interesting pop archaeology/history of four "lost" cities， moving roughly forward in time from pre-history Central Turkey， to turn-of-the-millennium Pompei， to 11th-12th century Cambodia， to pre-colonial Southern Illinois。 It's kind of interesting to consider how each of these cities was abandoned， some for the same reasons， some for different reasons， and then think about how our current cities grow and contract。 。。。more
Carla Cook
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A fascinating look at the evolution and dissolution （not saying ‘collapse’ anymore after reading this） of cities and what modern society can learn from them。 The author makes archaeology enjoyable to read about。
Julia Lo
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I really enjoyed this tale of four ancient cities: Çatalhöyük （Turkey）， Pompeii （Italy）， Angkor （Cambodia）， and Cahokia （USA）。 It’s fast-paced， yet peppered with fascinating details that make you want to know more。 A fun exploration of urban history that celebrates human resilience。
Rae
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A very interesting premise that struggled a bit with execution。 Four Lost Cities definitely gave me a lot more information about what ancient urban areas and cities looked like， but was also easy to put down。 Perhaps due in part to the fact that much has to be surmised about how people actually lived in these proto-cities， but also definitely due to some failures in the editing process， this book struggled to hold my attention。 The author does a lot of repeating of facts， and lots of rehashing w A very interesting premise that struggled a bit with execution。 Four Lost Cities definitely gave me a lot more information about what ancient urban areas and cities looked like， but was also easy to put down。 Perhaps due in part to the fact that much has to be surmised about how people actually lived in these proto-cities， but also definitely due to some failures in the editing process， this book struggled to hold my attention。 The author does a lot of repeating of facts， and lots of rehashing what has already been explained。 It's a relatively short book as is， and I wonder if maybe this could have been a really interesting article instead。I think Newitz is most interesting when she talks about being on-site and recalls interviews with the archeologists actively working at the various sites。 It's cool that she spent time in these locations， and I've absolutely expanded my list of places I'd like to travel to based on the book。It's a bit of a tough one to read in the sense that climate change does appear to have played a major part in the demise of each of these cities， and her final chapter reinforces that。 As we enter the third surge of the pandemic， reading about societal collapse isn't the best diversionary tactic， y'know？I did specifically enjoy the accompanying maps of each city， but also think this is a book that would have benefitted from pictures from the author's research。 I ended up Googling quite a bit just to see what she spent a lot of time， and not always effectively， describing。In all， I'd recommend to committed non-fiction readers interested in the subject， but don't think this is one I'd casually recommend。 。。。more
Denise
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This is a good overview of both these four cities and archeology itself and the changes it has gone as we’ve tried to decentralize the Western narrative from all of these places。 I would recommend it to anyone who， like me， has a passing interest in the study of the history of civilizations。 My biggest issues with the book are the lack of pictures。 The maps at the beginning of each section are cute but I found myself wanting to know what the excavation sites looked like as I was reading， which m This is a good overview of both these four cities and archeology itself and the changes it has gone as we’ve tried to decentralize the Western narrative from all of these places。 I would recommend it to anyone who， like me， has a passing interest in the study of the history of civilizations。 My biggest issues with the book are the lack of pictures。 The maps at the beginning of each section are cute but I found myself wanting to know what the excavation sites looked like as I was reading， which meant I had to leave the book to do so。 And the second thing is that so much is vague ideas of what might be or can have a diametrically opposed viewpoint and while that can be interesting， there was a lot of it。 Overall though it was an easy read that makes me want to dive into more books about the subjects。 。。。more
Razvan
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The first three chapters are excellent。 Well documented， presenting different points of view and possibilities。 Even admitting when some of the evidence doesn't go the way the author hoped。 Of course， we have the tendency to read history through the eyes of the present and what we know， and the author does a good job to challenge this。 But then there is the final chapter。。。 This is so politically correct， so subjective， based on basically no evidence whatsoever。 I really think Americans are very The first three chapters are excellent。 Well documented， presenting different points of view and possibilities。 Even admitting when some of the evidence doesn't go the way the author hoped。 Of course， we have the tendency to read history through the eyes of the present and what we know， and the author does a good job to challenge this。 But then there is the final chapter。。。 This is so politically correct， so subjective， based on basically no evidence whatsoever。 I really think Americans are very bad at writing about the history of their continent。 It's either grandstanding or full of guilt， but the correct tone is rarely found。 。。。more
Bill
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Good ReadThought it was very interesting， from a archaeological point of view。 Would have given it 5 stars， but the conclusions in the epilogue didn't really jibe with the body of the book。 Good ReadThought it was very interesting， from a archaeological point of view。 Would have given it 5 stars， but the conclusions in the epilogue didn't really jibe with the body of the book。 。。。more
Joy Weese Moll
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This was a selection for our book club and led to interesting discussions。 We all learned a lot。
Meg
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