Houser is part biography and part intellectual history of the early days of idealsm and activism in the housing movement. Oberlander and Newbrun are effective in using a sensitive telling of the life of Catherine Bauer to evoke a sense in which housing policy today has lost its way despite the foundations laid by Ms.Bauer and her colleagues. This book is a must read for those interested in reviving American housing policies.

This book is not only required reading for anyone interested in public housing, but also very enjoyable as a lively account of a most attractive and courageous woman. It is fun to read about her amatory exploits on her first trip to Europe, exciting to read about her successes in public life, and sad to find out about her tragic death. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in a remarkable woman's career.