Banks (Univ. at Albany, SUNY) presents an interesting thesis on contemporary trends in neighborhood and downtown development and promotion with a focus on what he defines as the "City Authentic"--"a nostalgic approach to both building preservation and new construction that foregrounds authenticity" (p. 10)--rendering urban spaces into consumable brands through social media. The research centers on the older industrial areas of the Capital Region of New York State, including the cities of Albany, Troy, and Schenectady. However, it is clear the author feels many of the concepts he introduces could also be helpful in understanding development strategies in many older cities across the US and elsewhere. There is a strong Marxist theoretical basis to the arguments presented here. Banks ties the City Authentic processes he identifies to ongoing needs by a capitalist system for uneven development. This book will be of considerable interest to students and scholars working in contemporary urban studies and urban planning. It may also capture the attention of practitioners working in related fields, though the author's theoretical preoccupations may be less compelling to some. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals. --Mark E. Pfeifer, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute

Banks (globalization studies, Univ. of Albany) describes how governments in formerly industrial cities publicize their historical heritage to attract residents and encourage economic growth. He focuses on efforts to brand these places as "authentic" and as sites for an urbane, hipster lifestyle. The strategy is two-fold: attract young, highly educated residents with discretionary income to create a lively downtown, and offer inexpensive land to businesses that will invest capital and create jobs. To document this dual quest, Banks draws on evidence from reports and interviews with the many "booster" organizations that exist in the Capital District region surrounding Albany, NY. His suggestion that this particular city initiative works, however, is unconvincing. Banks is more compelling when unraveling the rationale for authenticity's presence in economic development and delving into its synergy with influencers and social media. He concludes that the best course of action is "to disperse with authenticity talk altogether" and reimagine everything about identity formation, consumption, and culture. VERDICT An academic inquiry into the contemporary manufacturing of urban identity, best for advanced students of media and urban development.--Robert Beauregard