Why Public Spaces Matter– A Review: Setha Low, Why Public Spaces Matter, Oxford University Press, 2022, 336 Pages

Setha Low’s 2022 book, Why Public Space Matters, is an exemplary observation of the unique qualities that public spaces provide to all visitors, directly and indirectly, to their well-being. Highlighting ethnographic techniques, the author shows from the perspective of the regular visitors and tourists how public space is an area that provides a safe home for the public to safely socialize and interact with the environment while providing a community area. Low’s exploration of recent history, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, links how public spaces played a role in the events that transpired from 2020 to 2021. The review explores how the author examines each measure of what makes a public space, and why these measures can influence how a public space is utilized. Additionally, the book uses both domestic and international cases to show that the utilization of public spaces is equally important to all who interact with them.