The first major biography of the irrepressible woman who changed the way we view and live in cities; and whose influence can still be felt in any discussion of urban planning to this day. Eyes on the Street is a revelation of the phenomenal woman who raised three children; wrote seven groundbreaking books; saved neighborhoods; stopped expressways; was arrested twice; and engaged at home and on the streets in thousands of debates--all of which she won. Here is the child who challenged her third-grade teacher; the high school poet; the journalist who honed her writing skills at Iron Age; Architectural Forum; Fortune; and other outlets; while amassing the knowledge she would draw upon to write her most famous book; The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Here; too; is the activist who helped lead an ultimately successful protest against Robert Moses's proposed expressway through her beloved Greenwich Village; and who; in order to keep her sons out of the Vietnam War; moved to Canada; where she became as well known and admired as she was in the United States.
#189299 in Books Peggielene Bartels 2013-02-12 2013-02-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .74 x 5.15l; .76 #File Name: 0307742814368 pagesKing Peggy An American Secretary Her Royal Destiny and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Read for pure please learn a lot with no painBy J. GibbsWonderful true story; beautifully told. Pure joy to read. Bonus: Delivers a sense that you've lived in semi-rural Ghana and have an insider's view of some of its realities. I appreciate the insights and happy I got them from the air conditioned comfort of my armchair. The author did a great job of getting inside King Peggy's head and heart and sharing them with us. The result is we get to know how a great "everyday" hero thinks and acts. Plus we have the delight of being "present" as great improvements in everyday life are being brought to an area woefully deficient in what Americans regard as life's "basics." I'm glad I read this and grateful that BookBub brought it to my attention.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. How one woman was able to change a village in Ghana with love and humour on her sideBy JIll AlmvangThis was an amazing book about an amazing lady! She was challenged - and she took up that challenge - changing a society in Ghana in so many ways. I love her honesty about her own feelings and reactions to events - from the news that she has been elected King to the realization that the elders wanted her because that would leave them with the upper hand - they thought..... How wrong they were! I love the way Betty interweaves her US and Ghanain lives; and how she tells the story of the village and its inhabitants in such detail. Also her descriptions of the physical infrastructure help us understand the challenges she is facing as she wonders whether she will ever be able to reach the goals she set herself at the outset - given the practical and financial hindrances she meets along the way.The story is told with such humour and insight; I just had to keep going to find out what happened next0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. True tale of a middle-aged Americanized woman who becomes the king of a village in GhanaBy Raspberry G.King Peggy is a lovely book about an improbable; yet true tale of a middle-aged Americanized woman who becomes the king of a village in Ghana. The book details her reign there and the many decisions she must make for the betterment of her people as they still believe in witchcraft; spells; and signs. Peggy is more modern than that; but she has to take them as they are and work for their better interests. There is much to admire about Peggy and her work; and the humor with which she makes difficult situations more tolerable. You'll enjoy King Peggy; especially if you are interested in how cultures differ from one another. It's light reading; but a solid 4 stars.
