Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Metropolis summary
Ben Wilson
A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention
17 mins
Table of Contents
Metropolis
Summary of 4 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 4
Engines of innovation
From ancient Mesopotamia to modern Shanghai, cities have long served as crucibles of human innovation. But what draws us to them? And what enables cities to endure crisis after crisis – from wars to pandemics to climate change?
Cities offer economic opportunities, access to amenities, and social mobility exceeding what’s available in rural areas. Cities are humanity’s laboratories. The density and diversity of cities make them engines of innovation, where new ideas emerge through chance encounters and collaborations. In ancient Mesopotamia, less than 5 percent of people inhabited cities. But this minority, however small, propelled advancements in writing, mathematics, law, and the use of tools. Cities concentrate talent and facilitate the exchange of ideas, the specialization of skills, and the accumulation of wealth.
Over two millennia, pioneering metropolises like Uruk and Harappa gave way to Athens, imperial Rome, and Muslim Cordoba. Medieval Bruges established capitalism while the Italian city-states birthed artistic and technical breakthroughs. By the mid-nineteenth century, new transport and manufacturing technologies enabled unprecedented, rapid urbanization.
In 1900, 10 percent of humanity lived in cities. By the close of the century, this number exceeded 50 percent. Now, the twenty-first century is experiencing stunning urban expansion. Cities occupy ever more land area, spreading outward even as they shoot upward.
Humanity’s future depends on the future of cities. Understanding historical urban successes and failures can help guide urban planning and policy today. Citizens shouldn’t have to passively accept squalor, sprawl, and pollution as inevitable costs of urban living. Across generations, people have reshaped cities; if we learn from this past and work together, we can create places that meet twenty-first – and twenty-second – century needs.
Want to see all full key ideas from Metropolis?
Key ideas in Metropolis
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Metropolis about?
Metropolis (2020) charts how cities have profoundly shaped humanity. From Athenian democracy to Baghdad’s bazaars and London finance, it reveals cities as the driving force of civilization for over 200,000 years.
Metropolis Review
Metropolis (2021) delves into the fascinating history of cities, exploring their evolution and impact on society. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- Unveils the hidden stories behind famous cities, shedding light on their growth and transformation over time.
- Offers insights into the social, political, and cultural dynamics that shape urban environments, providing a deeper understanding of city life.
- Engages readers with its compelling narratives and thought-provoking analysis, ensuring that even the most urban-savvy readers find new perspectives.
Who should read Metropolis?
- History buffs interested in the evolution of cities
- Readers curious about how people lived in past eras
- Anyone wanting to understand the origins of human civilization
Categories with Metropolis
Book summaries like Metropolis
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Metropolis FAQs
What is the main message of Metropolis?
In Metropolis, the main message revolves around societal class struggles and technological advancements impacting human relationships.
How long does it take to read Metropolis?
Reading Metropolis typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just a few minutes.
Is Metropolis a good book? Is it worth reading?
Metropolis is worth reading for its insightful exploration of complex human themes within a futuristic setting.
Who is the author of Metropolis?
The author of Metropolis is Ben Wilson.
What to read after Metropolis?
If you're wondering what to read next after Metropolis, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
- Teddy and Booker T. by Brian Kilmeade
- The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta
- All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
- The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton
- The Technology Trap by Carl Benedikt Frey
- The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer
- Says Who? by Anne Curzan
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Eve by Cat Bohannon