Boston and the Making of a Global City
- Joyce Graff
- Jan 23
- 1 min read
August 12, 2025 - Harvard Book Store welcomes James C. O'Connell—author and adjunct professor of city planning-urban affairs at Boston University—for a discussion of his new book "Boston and the Making of a Global City." He will be joined in conversation by Scott Kirsner—columnist for MassLive, a regular contributor on WBUR, author of Innovation Economy, and co-founder of the nonprofit The Innovation Trail.
The book details how Boston transformed from a colonial port into a modern global hub by leveraging its strengths in higher education, healthcare, finance, and technology, particulatly in life sciences, IT, and AI, while also addressing challenges like inequality and urban development. The book traces this evolution through global flows of trade, knowledge, and people, highlighting its shift from manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy.
Dr. O'Connell is a member of the Board of Friends of the JFK Birthplace. Jim O'Connell
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