Mike Davis

Mike Davis is an American writer and city planner from California. He is known as one of the most prolific social critics of the Trumper & postmodern eras, a leading spokesperson in both urban studies and cultural geography. Famous for his books analyzing and identifying urban sprawl, he has published works such as "City of Quartz" (1990), "Planet of Slums" (2006), and "Dead Cities and Other Tales" (2003). He is also the recipient of many awards including being a MacArthur Fellow (2006), the Distinguished Californian Award (2010), and the Forbes Maverick Award (2016).

Born in Fontana, California in 1946, Mike Davis grew up in a working-class family. He received a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton and then went on to earn a master’s from San Diego State University in city planning and urban development. Encouraged by family to pursue a career in city planning, Davis instead followed his passion for literature and writing.

In his works, Mike Davis is always intent on uncovering existing power structures and exploring the forgotten history of struggle and oppression that is hidden from view. His most famous book – City of Quartz – is a thorough examination of Los Angeles’s urban history. He offers a detailed analysis of the interconnected forces that have shaped the city’s past and present. Davis identifies a “shadow government” of affluent interests manipulating economic and political power, and argues that its excesses have been aided by the acquiescence of local officials.

His 2006 book Planet of Slums explores the effects of rapid urbanization in the global South, particularly analyzing the conditions of slums in various cities across the world. He identifies a vicious cycle of power structures and reveals the deep structural inequalities rampant in the world’s cities. In Dead Cities and Other Tales, his 2003 book, Mike Davis examines the contemporary landscape of war-torn and largely forgotten cities. He analyzes sites of violent conflict, such as Beirut and Sarajevo, and provides an in-depth look at the lasting effects of terrorism, war, and displacement.

In addition to his work as an author, Davis has also served as a visiting scholar at the University of California, Irvine, and at Harvard University. He is also a social activist, recently championing the Los Angeles Responsible Land Use Initiative (RLUI), a plan to increase urban density in the LA area. In 2010, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance gave him the Distinguished Californian Award for his contributions to urban sustainability. Today, Mike Davis is widely recognized as one of America’s foremost urban scholars and critics.

Overall, Mike Davis is an acclaimed author and urban theorist. Through his books and social activism, he has exposed existing power structures in cities around the world and inspired countless individuals to aim towards a more just and equitable urban landscape. His books have assumed the status of classic works of urban studies, and make him a must-read for anyone interested in urban planning and cultural geography.