Deirdre Mask

I originally heard about this book on a podcast and as a snail mailer, it piqued my interest. The book was so interesting and ranks right up there with my favourite narrative non-fiction - [b:The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World|30753994|The One-Cent Magenta Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World|James Barron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476031541l/30753994._SX50_.jpg|51302425]. There were chapters on people living without addresses, how the homeless are marginalised without addresses, the naming of streets, the clamour for 'privileged' street addresses, new apps and ideas to get those living in refugee camps, shanty towns and on the streets on the grid so they can improve their situations without judgement.
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in history, sociology, social justice and development and more. It is a really well researched and interesting book.
I requested that my local library purchase this book and I borrowed it but this is a book I would really like to own.… (más)

This is the book I never knew I wanted to read, but I'm so glad I did! It's a well-researched and fascinating exploration of the history and cultural significance of addresses. Mask expertly traces the development of addresses from ancient times to the present day and shows how they have been used to shape societies and individuals.

I was glued to the pages, deeply fascinated by the various discussions and personal anecdotes woven throughout. I appreciated learning about the way addresses were used to enforce racial segregation in the United States, for example.

The book also delves into the role of addresses in shaping modern cities, from the development of the grid system in Manhattan to the implementation of house numbering in London. Mask shows how these systems were initially met with resistance but ultimately led to increased efficiency and a more ordered society. She also discusses how addresses have been used to reflect and reinforce social hierarchies, such as through the use of elite postal codes and prestigious street names.

Throughout the book, Mask expertly weaves together historical research and personal anecdotes. These stories add a human element to the book and help to illustrate how addresses have impacted people's lives over time.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and illuminating read that sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of our daily lives. Mask's engaging writing style and careful research make this a must-read for anyone interested in the history of cities, urban planning, and societal issues.… (más)

Well. This book could be called "The Society Book," since it really is all about societies around the world, and how the presence or absence of an address affects people. Structurally, I felt the chapter titles were much more specific than the content tended to be. Which is not a bad thing -- the chapter about street names in Iran tracks the history of the Irish troubles and the impact revolutions in other parts of the world are felt, as much as discussing the complex issues of civil organization in Iran, and the history of numbered streets in Philadelphia is more about the history of William Penn and Quakerism than about how that city is organized. It all just speaks to how much we are defined by where and how we live. I never really thought before about how important it is to locate yourself in the world, not just the city you live in, but the precise part of that city, the name of your street, the conventions that identify not just where you live but who you are. Who knew that "vanity addresses" were a thing in cities like New York, where an address can affect everything from the value of your property to the kind of customers you might get and the way people view you (and how those addresses can misidentify your location to the point where emergency services might not find you...) And in the last few pages of this book, the author introduces "what3words," which is a tech startup that has divided the entire planet into a grid of 3-meter squares, and assigned a unique set of 3 words to each square (in more than 30 languages), so that if you have an address or a spot on a map, you can find the 3 words and use them to locate yourself. It is an interesting approach to a difficult problem. I found this book absolutely fascinating. While the thesis can sometimes be hidden within the wide-ranging contexts the author calls up, I found myself drawn into every chapter, which makes address and identity parts of issues that are so much bigger, and yet play such a crucial role.… (más)