Private Neighborhoods And the Transformation of Local ... (ISBN 0877667519)

The Emerging Future:
I give this book the five-star rating because it opens up a subject that is little remarked yet may well be the way that will revolutionize our way of living in the future. Nelson reveals that perhaps 20% of Americans now live in private homeowner associations that constitute self-governing communities. Although we consider secession to have been put down forever in 1865, the fact is that many Americans are quietly withdrawing into their own self-governing comunities based on private property ownership -- a condition that the independence-resistant federal government still feels Constitution-bound to protect. There now are more than 250,000 such private associations, and thousands more on the way. If you want to get a sense for the ongoing revolution in the "American Way," this book is a fine primer.

Must have for HOA activists:
This book is a treasure drove of data, history, recommendations, and positive speculation on the phenomena of Homeowners' Associations and their exciting and promising effect on our democracy. I would have given Nelson's work a 5.0 except for the fact that, as the Forward points out, the book is really several books in one. As a result I found it somewhat repetitious (OK - I got it on the effect of the Progressive Era on land use!) and not particularly an easy read - at least front to back. It just seems too chopped up from an organizational standpoint. (My opinion is probably jaded by the fact that just before reading Private Government I had whizzed through Evan McKenzie's 1994 work Privatopia, practically in one sitting - even though I disagreed wholeheartedly with most of McKenzie's negative take on Homeowner Associations.) Readability not withstanding, as a very active member in my neighborhoods association - I just completed a three-year term as President - I heartily endorse Private Governments as a must have for anyone wishing to get a comprehensive view of what promises to be an ever-expanding feature of our democracy.