Underground Cities by Mark Ovenden is an interesting view at what is beneath many of the cities of the world. While most such books concentrate on one city, often in mind-numbing detail, this one covers 32 cities in enough detail to pique interest in the topic more generally. It makes me curious about other cities as well as offers a few instances here that I will likely seek more details about.

My initial interest in the book was as something I could read in those brief moments when I have time to read a little but not enough time to get back into a novel or nonfiction work that requires concentration. It would have served that function well, much the way I use collections of short stories or essays, but I just kept reading because I was curious what some of the differences were between cities.

I would recommend this both to readers already with an interest in underground cities as well as those simply curious about the topic. Those already interested just need to understand this is not an in-depth look at any of these cities, it is an overview from which you can research or explore further.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )