<p>This is the kind of book one gets excited about reading from the first page onward. A chief reason for that is the propulsive energy and enthusiasm of Murray's engaging writing. Murray argues for seeing Johannesburg after apartheid as a city that remains divided against itself. He has three interwoven claims for post-apartheid Johannesburg: that the regeneration process and the road to ruin are two sides of the same coin; that it is very difficult to alter the urban landscape when it is physically so wedded to political-economic segregation and inequality; and that reliance on market mechanisms exacerbates the divisions of the city. Murrays four lines of argument around these claims might be described as emphasizing economic geography, socio-cultural aesthetics and discourse, urban governance, and the professional practice of urban planning. After a brief introduction, he lays out his case through eight theoretically engaged and empirically rich chapters. The content relies on a broad understanding of relevant literatures and on field research. Murray mixes data sources well, from interviews, detailed site visits to informal settlements, conversations with activists and residents, and news accounts.... This is a very strong book, ideally suited for use in urban geography and Africa geography courses.</p>

Journal of Cultural Geography