Mind-Sight. The Structure and Social Life of Cities

Why do we lower our gaze when meeting a stranger in the city? This question is posed by Richard Sennett in his study of the history of urban planning. Analyzing various urban objects (from ancient gymnasiums to Turkish baths in New York) as well as works of art (from engravings of the Renaissance to graffiti in the subway), the author shows how the fear of openness to strangers was formed, how an impenetrable wall was erected between inner and outer life, and how the physical structure of the city and architecture changed as a result. In «Mind-Sight,» Sennett articulates the principles of the art of openness and sympathy: he shows the ways to deal with the complexity and diversity of urban existence, and how to create a space where one can see the other without fear and open oneself to their gaze.