Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

Happiness Podcast.

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

to share that science with you.

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.

This is a Thinking Loud Podcasts from the BBC, and for more details and much, much more about

thinking aloud, go to our website at BBC.co. UK.

Hello. When I was a little kid in Liverpool shortly after the Second World War, my friend Michael Inshore and I used to go scrapping,

walking down to the banks of the

ones of rubble for bits of household stuff, a door handle, a picture frame, a doll's head.

You see, we knew that these miles and miles of bricks and mortar,

now being used for coast erosion with a bombed out remains of the

rows of terraced housing near the center of the city. But my other vivid image from

that period was of a city coming back to life. We all went up to town to see it.

It was the brand new Lewis's department store and its 18 foot high Jacob Epstein statue of a naked man standing on the prow of a ship.

Liverpool resurgent it was called, but vulgarly and rather proudly renamed by

scousers as Dickie Lewis. Well the near death and the new life of

cities matters to discuss with my guest today. He's Edward Glaser, Professor

of Economics at Harvard University, and co-author with

...