"The Rise of The Creative Class" by Richard Florida

In 2023, I'd say this book could have been an article. However, given that it was published in 2010, the book was very forward-looking. The main idea that the author is trying to convey is that after the Industrial Revolution, we came to the creative revolution. If before, schools and cities revolved around preparing and catering to people working in factories; nowadays, we have the "data" workers that create intelligence and ideas.

Richard claims (and righteously so) that the more creative talent a city can attract, the better off it will be. He struck gold with this idea. He proceeds to say that to achieve this goal, a city must be walkable, transit-oriented, have plenty of green and communal spaces, be diverse and tolerant, and be authentic. E.g., the chain stores must go, and here come the family-owned small coffee shops!

Even though it is self-evident nowadays for people living in creative cities, this book can still expose many aspects unknown to the rural population. For instance, using the Gay or Bohemian Index as a proxy for the city's prosperity can be interesting and worth exploring further.

Would I recommend reading "The Rise of The Creative Class?" I don't know — it has good parts, but if you're already aligned with the book ideas, you can safely skip the extensive examples and read a few summaries. However, if you feel offended by the book, read or listen to it — you might change your mind facing all these examples and facts.