Chicago City Builders Book Club: Nature's Metropolis, Part Two

Chicago City Builders Book Club: Nature’s Metropolis, Part II

Still with us? Good. We have made it past the opening stretch of William Cronon’s Nature’s Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West and into the heart of the book, where Chicago stops being just a scrappy settlement and becomes the marketplace that redefined a continent.

Part II dives into the city’s rise as the clearinghouse for grain, lumber, and meat. This is where Chicago flexes its muscle, turning commodities into power and rewriting the rules of regional economics. If you have ever wondered how a place can be both hog butcher and empire builder, this is the section for you.

Yes, the book is long. No, you do not need to read every page to keep up. We are breaking it down piece by piece so you can actually enjoy the conversation instead of dragging yourself through a reading marathon.

The Vibe
Think less dissertation, more barstool debate. We meet over drinks and snacks to argue, laugh, and learn from each other. If you care about public service, urban design, or the messy mechanics of reform, this is your crowd.

Where and When
We meet at locations near the Loop every six weeks or so. This session covers Part II. Part III will follow, but you do not need to attend all three to jump in. Each discussion works on its own, but together they build a deeper understanding of how Chicago became the metropolis that shaped a region.

Hosts

Marla Westervelt Berg, Principal, Cityfi, [email protected]

Lauren Mattern, Founder & TDM Lead, Journey, [email protected]

Mike Ernst, Associate, Arup, [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Cityfi and Journey