Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence

Over the past two decades, American cities have experienced an astonishing drop in violent crime, dramatically changing urban life. Patrick Sharkey reveals the striking consequences: improved school test scores, since children are better able to learn when not traumatized by nearby violence; better chances that poor children will rise into the middle class; and a striking increase in the life expectancy of African American men. Many places once characterized by decay and abandonment are now thriving, yet pervasive inequality threatens these gains.

At a time when crime is rising again and powerful political forces seek to disinvest in cities, the insights in this book are indispensable.