Vertical World

Are the political and economic worlds merely two-dimensional lines on a map? What lies behind the construction frenzy all over the world? Why are the artificial islands in Dubai built to be visible from Google Earth? What is life like for Brazil's "uber" rich in their skyscraper penthouses? What is the secret behind the basement excavations in billionaires' London homes?

In Vertical World, Stephen Graham redraws the world and the city by adding the missing third axis; he explores the geography of inequality, politics, and identity by taking this missing third dimension into account. He takes us on a breathtaking journey from the all-seeing eyes of satellites in space, through our atmosphere filled with killer drones and helicopters, to the homes of the richest and poorest in the world's giant cities. He points out that the reflection of advancements in the technology behind the elevators we use without a second thought can be found both in the lifestyles of the rich atop skyscrapers and in the mines with arduous working conditions deep underground. Graham also underlines the human cost of the exploitation of the underground resources of poor countries by imperialist powers and giant corporations.
Vertical World allows us to look at the cities we live in, the atmosphere, and what happens in the world beneath our feet with a brand new perspective. By revealing the third dimension in the class struggle, it aims to create a revolution in our understanding of our place in the world.

Stephen Graham is a Professor of Cities and Society at the Global Urban Research Unit, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University.