Lost in Austin

The Evolution of an American City

By: Alex Hannaford

Narrated by: James Meunier

A long-time Austinite and journalist’s exploration of the profound movements that have shaped Austin, Texas—charting the shifts within its vibrant music scene, the impact of rapid urbanization, and the challenges of gentrification—ultimately questioning what this city’s transformation signals for American urban identity.

Austin isn’t what it used to be.

This is a common sentiment amongst locals, offered with the same confused—and often disappointed—tone familiar to residents of Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco, where rapid growth and expansion have led to an urban identity crisis. Like those cities, Austin is known for its unique qualities: a thriving live music scene and housing affordability that historically made it a compelling home for creatives and self-described weirdos to roost. But now, as Big Tech infiltrates and climate change looms, Austin has become less familiar—and far less affordable.

An exploration of the beloved city’s evolution, Lost in Austin also serves as a critical exploration of the transformation that has befallen one of America’s most beloved cities—and serves as a warning for what the homogenization of cities means for American urban identity. With a journalist’s perspective and the heart of an Austinite, Alex Hannaford delves into the consequences of the city’s rapid growth in chapters that chronicle the major movements permanently altering the city: a vanishing music scene, soaring property values, and the encroachment of major industry. Through keen reportage and extensive interviews, Lost in Austin unveils the toll of unchecked growth and the city’s shift from its rebellious spirit to commercialization.

Through those stories—vibrant, colorful, and clearly full of love for this city—Hannaford raises a crucial question: How do American cities, once celebrated for their unique values, became casualties of their own rapid growth and success? And can they ever return to what they once were?

©2024 Alex Hannaford (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Very interesting

The author captures the problems that modern Austin faces very well. It drew me into a subject I would not have found normally interesting and made it both enjoyable and digestible. I loved the interviews that Alex did with various different people. Great job.

Everything but the kitchen sink

Alex really covered all the important bits of Austin history and you can tell a ton of research went into this project. Despite this it also remained a fast paced, concise read. I soaked this audiobook up in about 2 days, unable to put it down. It should be required reading for all Texans, all Americans, all world citizens.