P.D. Smith has compiled a history of cities, richly illustrated, telling how they developed (and sometimes died) the customs, transportation, markets, museums, libraries, churches, slums and all else that makes them unique.
Interspersed are mini essays like the Battle of the Oranges (Italy) where the inhabitants of a small town pelt each other with oranges for three days as part of the town’s Carnival at Lent. Or who invented the first parking meter and where it was installed (Oklahoma City). It’s a good book to read, think about, and go back to. I’m really enjoying it.
Smith’s prediction is that nearly three quarters of the world’s population will be city dwellers by 2050, about 6.4 billion people. That may free up enough land for growing the food they’ll need!