Many of the themes Mumford addresses overlap with those of his more familiararchitectural criticism the guiding role of the past in stimulating creativityin the... » 

Many of the themes Mumford addresses overlap with those of his more familiararchitectural criticism the guiding role of the past in stimulating creativityin the present the increasing congestion of the modern metropolis thealarming lack of human control over modern technology and the pressing need torestore organic balance to everyday living. Though he was open to new movementsemanating from Europe Mumford became the chief advocate of a progressiveAmerican modernism that was both socially aware and formally inventive. «