This is a great book. Particularly like his metaphor that blaming the people involved in gentrifying urban areas for the social ills of gentrification writ large is misguided, since gentrification is often the inevitable response of restrictive, even draconian zoning policy. But actually changing that zoning policy often runs counter to what lots of people who live in urban neighborhoods also say they want (height restrictions, lot and yard requirements, etc.).

Wish he would talk a bit more about low-income housing, since the general argument — increasing density makes desirable locations more affordable for everyone — seems to speak only indirectly to some of the underlying aims of affordable housing initiatives (designated as low-income in otherwise higher-income areas). Since I know next to nothing about this stuff, it at least makes me curious to learn more about the particular zoning etc. features my own area.