Lewis Mumford

Lewis Mumford (1895–1990) was an American historian, sociologist, literary critic, and influential commentator on technology and urban life. He wrote widely on how cities shape culture and human values, arguing for planning that serves community and the environment. Mumford’s major works include *The Culture of Cities* (1938) and *The City in History* (1961), landmark studies of urban development from ancient times to the modern metropolis. He also examined the social consequences of industrialization and large-scale technical systems, often warning against dehumanizing forms of “megamachine” organization. Mumford’s writing helped define twentieth-century debates on urbanism and modernity.