Every city has its own unique character that persists in spite of the normalizing effects of globalization, an urban tenacity that this inspirational gazetteer of 250 cities proudly displays. Beginning at the Greenwich Meridian in London and heading west around the globe, the entries introduce cities in longitudinal order. In addition to the classic metropolitan destinations—New York, Paris, Rio, Rome, Tokyo—lesser known treasures such as Asmara, a 1950s time capsule in Eritrea; Irkutsk, a hidden jewel in the heart of Siberia; Nuuk in Greenland; and Ushuaia, Argentina, the southermost city of the world, are also explored. Each entry consists of photographs and lively commentaries that capture the particular blend of history, topography, climate, customs, and cuisine that forms each city's individual personality.