Walking through suburbia, others might see faded semis, but Paul Barker sees an amazing adaptability : garages turned into storerooms, front gardens turned into garages, front doors personalised and giving out subtle social signals. The suburb is, in his words, "the great national balancing act between privacy and price."

"Suburban" is regularly used as a sneer-word. Especially by architects and planners. But suburbia must be doing something right. In Britain, four out of five people (at least) live here. It is best to try to understand, Barker says, before rushing to condemn. Suburbs are an essential part of every city. Often, the most vigorous, innovative part - a land of liberty.

With his keen eye for the revealing detail, Barker takes us on an entertaining and enlightening journey - to enjoy a tower block being festively blown up; to meet a white witch in a Croydon semi; to savour the hidden charms of  Milton Keynes; and to cherish the delights of allotments, seaside bungalows and town-edge malls.

He paints a humane yet provocative portrait of 21st century living. He also argues for a much more libertarian approach to town and country planning.

This book is available through local bookshops or via Amazon, www.amazon.co.uk

The book has been reviewed in the Economist, FT, Observer, Daily Telegraph, Scotsman, TLS, Literary Review, Building Design, RIBA Journal and elsewhere.  Paul has also discussed his findings in The Times, Independent on Sunday, AA Journal, on BBC radio and in a Royal Academy forum on "Reconceiving London's Suburbs".