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The Air-Conditioned Nightmare: A Journey Through the Most Inhuman Places on Earth

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A Photo Of The Book The Air Conditioned Nightmare By James Howard Kunstler The Air Conditioned Nightmare (New Directions Paperbook)

The Air-Conditioned Nightmare (New Directions Paperbook)

by Henry Miller

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2623 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	293 pages

By James Howard Kunstler

New Directions Publishing, 2003

304 pages

: 0811215266

James Howard Kunstler's The Air-Conditioned Nightmare is a scathing indictment of modern architecture, cities, and the global economy. Kunstler argues that the air-conditioned environment has created a "nightmare" world of environmental destruction, social isolation, and economic inequality.

Kunstler begins his book with a tour of the most inhuman places on Earth, from the air-conditioned offices of the global elite to the slums of the developing world. He describes how the air-conditioned environment has created a "climate of fear" in which people are afraid to leave their homes and interact with the outside world. He also argues that the air-conditioned environment has led to a decline in physical activity and an increase in obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.

Kunstler's critique of modern architecture is particularly damning. He argues that the modern skyscraper is a "symbol of the arrogance and hubris of the modern world." He also criticizes the modernist obsession with glass and steel, which he says has created a "sterile and inhuman" environment. Kunstler believes that the modern city is a "failed experiment" that has created a "nightmare" world of traffic congestion, pollution, and crime.

Kunstler's book is not without its critics. Some have accused him of being a Luddite who is opposed to all forms of progress. Others have argued that his critique of modern architecture is too simplistic and ignores the many benefits that air-conditioning has brought to society. However, there is no doubt that Kunstler's book is a powerful and thought-provoking indictment of the modern world. It is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the future of our planet and the well-being of our society.

## Key Themes

* The environmental destruction caused by air-conditioning * The social isolation and economic inequality caused by air-conditioning * The decline in physical activity and the increase in obesity, diabetes, and other health problems caused by air-conditioning * The failure of modern architecture and the modern city

## Quotes

* "The air-conditioned environment is a climate of fear." * "The modern skyscraper is a symbol of the arrogance and hubris of the modern world." * "The modern city is a failed experiment." * "We are living in a nightmare world of our own making."

## About the Author

James Howard Kunstler is an American writer, architect, and social critic. He is the author of over 20 books, including The Geography of Nowhere, The World Made by Hand, and Too Much Magic: Wishful Thinking, Technology, and the Fate of the Nation. Kunstler is a vocal critic of modern architecture, cities, and the global economy. He believes that the modern world is unsustainable and that we are heading for a collapse of civilization.

The Air-Conditioned Nightmare (New Directions Paperbook)

by Henry Miller

4.3 out of 5