About the Author

Michael F. Logan is professor of history at Oklahoma State University. He is the author of The Lessening Stream: The Environmental History of the Santa Cruz River and Fighting Sprawl and City Hall: Resistance to Urban Growth in the Southwest.

Reviews

"Desert Cities takes an interesting approach to understanding the confluence of urbanization and environment in two of the fastest growing cities in the United States today. And because of its clear and engaging writing style, it's the kind of scholarly text that can easily cross over to a more popular audience."-- "Sallie A. Marston, University of Arizona"

Desert Cities offers a valuable new approach to the well-studied topic of urban competition. By factoring in the key roles of both ethnicity and the natural environment in shaping the divergent development of Phoenix and Tucson, Michael Logan successfully blends the interests of urban history, environmental history, and borderlands history.-- "Carl Abbott, Portland State University"

A broad and important study that adds to a growing literature that stresses the need to continue to think and write about the environmental histories of cities.-- "Western Historical Quarterly"

Meticulously documents the causes of the growth disparity between Tucson and Phoenix. More than a scholarly text, 'Desert Cities' is relevant, provocative and highly recommended.-- "Tucson Citizen"

Those interested in a succinct history of Arizona's chief metropolitans, emphasizing the influence of the environment should enjoy this work.-- "Journal of the West"