James O’Connell’s new book may not be everyone’s idea of a beach read. But if you’re interested in how cities rise and fall, and how global forces impact a region’s economy, it could be the perfect page-turner for your lakeside lounging this summer.
O’Connell, a Springfield native and professor at Boston University, is the author of “Boston and the Making of a Global City.” He says he has spent roughly two decades exploring how Boston grew into an important global hub — and how the economy works today. (Early in his career, he ran the Springfield Redevelopment Authority under then-mayor Richard Neal.)
The book covers everything from the MBTA to housing costs to the recent growth in industries such as robotics and life sciences. But O’Connell finished writing the book toward the end of the Biden administration; it’s officially out in July…