35 pages • 1 hour read
Mike DavisPlanet of Slums
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Planet of Slums by Mike Davis chronicles the global spread of urban poverty, noting that over a billion people live in slum conditions as classified by the UN. Highlighting the impact of postcolonial neoliberal policies, IMF debt-restructuring measures, and widening socioeconomic divides, Davis argues that urbanization in developing countries has led to entrenched poverty with minimal prospects for improvement. Topics include extreme poverty and bleak living conditions.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Mike Davis's Planet of Slums offers a meticulous examination of urban poverty worldwide, illustrating the devastating impact of rapid urbanization on the marginalized. Praised for its depth and critical insight, the book is also critiqued for its dense, sometimes pessimistic tone. Overall, it's a compelling, albeit intense, study of global inequality and urban slum conditions.
Who Should Read Planet of Slums?
Readers who would enjoy Planet of Slums by Mike Davis are typically interested in urban studies, social justice, and global poverty. Comparable to The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein and Evicted by Matthew Desmond, these readers appreciate incisive socio-economic critique and in-depth examinations of marginalized communities.