Jane Jacobs (19162006) is an icon in urban planning and became known worldwide for her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities. The book and her street-level activism in 1960s New York made Jacobs a central figure in urban planning issues, and her efforts have been constantly interpreted and debated. In this anthology, initiated writers address unique aspects of the burning issues she raises. What is it that basically makes a society sustainable? Together, the participants draw a close enough comprehensive picture of Jacob's business from the 1930s to the 2000s and put her work in a contemporary context.