Cities enable the collaboration that makes humanity shine most brightly. This provocative statement is at the heart of economist Edward Glaesers impassioned examination of urban life. In it, he takes us from Mumbai to New York, to Rio to Detroit, to Shanghai and dozens of points in-between to argue that cities bring out the best in us, asking - and answering - some cruc Cities enable the collaboration that makes humanity shine most brightly. This provocative statement is at the heart of economist Edward Glaesers impassioned examination of urban life. In it, he takes us from Mumbai to New York, to Rio to Detroit, to Shanghai and dozens of points in-between to argue that cities bring out the best in us, asking - and answering - some crucial questions: what can a great city like New York learn from a middling one? Which cities must shrink or die? Whats wrong with London? Whats right with Lagos? And much, much more.