Interesting. Challenging. Revealing. By taking us through 200 years of Manchester housing history this book raises strong arguments as to why housing should not be controlled by capitalists and investors whose only goal is to maximise return on their investments. This not only distorts property values but it hastens the break-up of communities and the loss of social housing for the many who so desperately seek it. A thoughtful body of work.

This is a really engaging and succinct account of Manchester's central place in the development of neoliberalism, tracing the growth of the city from the early 19th century to the present day. It's strong on how Manchester grew so quickly in the 19th century and the post-Thatcher decline in public and social housing, less detailed on how council and social housing boomed and then declined after WW2. An excellent overview.