Wild Cities
Journeys Through the Modern Urban Jungle
Published on 9. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-0-00-855722-5 (ISBN)
Description
'Mind-shifting, heart-lifting' ISABELLA TREE
'Inspiring and essential' ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS
'As entertaining as it is enlightening'
INDEPENDENT
The majority of the world now lives in some form of urban environment. But as the human footprint of brick, concrete and metal expands, our proximity to nature decreases. This is a problem; nature isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. And it's vital to our wellbeing.
From tiny urban forests in Tokyo and the star-rich skies of Flagstaff, to the meandering waters of Munich and prowling lions of Nairobi, this is a globe-spanning look at how to bring nature into the places we live - and how to create the wild cities of the future.
'Thought-provoking'
GEOGRAPHICAL
'An excellent, meticulously researched book'
COUNTRY LIFE
'Inspiring and essential' ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS
'As entertaining as it is enlightening'
INDEPENDENT
The majority of the world now lives in some form of urban environment. But as the human footprint of brick, concrete and metal expands, our proximity to nature decreases. This is a problem; nature isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. And it's vital to our wellbeing.
From tiny urban forests in Tokyo and the star-rich skies of Flagstaff, to the meandering waters of Munich and prowling lions of Nairobi, this is a globe-spanning look at how to bring nature into the places we live - and how to create the wild cities of the future.
'Thought-provoking'
GEOGRAPHICAL
'An excellent, meticulously researched book'
COUNTRY LIFE
Reviews / Votes
AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR'An engaging tone enlivens a book packed with surprising information ... Wild Cities is a splendid, uplifting book that is as entertaining as it is enlightening'
Independent, five-star review
'The battle for stabilising our planet will be won or lost in cities. Chris Fitch's beautiful book is a joyride through the ingenious nature-based solutions for urban life and infrastructure that are showing the way. 'Wild Cities' is a mind-shifting, heart-lifting glimpse into the healthy, sustainable, calm and beautiful cities that could be ours if we open our eyes to the possibilities and pull together for change'
Isabella Tree
'An inspiring and essential guide to reconnecting urban life with the wildness we all need for a thriving future'
Alastair Humphreys
'Thought-provoking and can give food for thought to policymakers and individuals alike'
Geographical
'An excellent, meticulously researched book, which should be mandatory reading for every city planner in Britain'
Country Life
'Illuminating, evocative and inspirational. If you live in a big city, this book will make you look at it in a completely new way'
Sinclair McKay
'An important and fabulous book, with so many great stories and beautiful insights. Really wonderful stuff'
Daniel Raven Ellison, National Geographic Explorer and founder of National Park City and Slow Ways campaigns
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 128 mm
Width: 198 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
294 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-855722-5 (9780008557225)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
04/2025
William Collins
€21.50
Available immediately
E-Book
04/2025
William Collins
€7.79
Available for download
Person
Chris Fitch was born in Westminster, before spending his childhood in the tropical South Pacific rainforests of the Solomon Islands. After graduating from Royal Holloway University of London with a BA in Geography, he worked in wide variety of media roles, including as a correspondent for Monocle 24 global radio. He later became senior staff writer at Geographical (the official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society) reporting from some of the most remote parts of the planet, learning first-hand about the world's biggest problems, from climate change to species extinctions.
His first book, Atlas of Untamed Places, was published in 2017, and nominated for an Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award. In 2019, he began writing for international brands such as Lonely Planet and The Atlantic, as well as completing his third book, Subterranea, published in 2020. He has lived in a wide variety of countries, including New Zealand, South Korea, and Brazil, and is now based in Portugal.
His first book, Atlas of Untamed Places, was published in 2017, and nominated for an Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award. In 2019, he began writing for international brands such as Lonely Planet and The Atlantic, as well as completing his third book, Subterranea, published in 2020. He has lived in a wide variety of countries, including New Zealand, South Korea, and Brazil, and is now based in Portugal.