Draft:Kenneth Ray Schneider
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Comment: More citations are needed as pointed by the respective tags NeoGaze (talk) 17:15, 12 April 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: note for reviewers: primary editor has a disclosed COI. Thanks. asilvering (talk) 23:45, 22 December 2025 (UTC)
Kenneth R. Schneider | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1927 Oasis, Millard County, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | October 3, 2005 (aged 78) Canyonlands National Park, Utah, U.S. |
| Occupations | City planner, author |
| Notable work | Autokind vs. Mankind |
Kenneth Ray Schneider (February 18, 1927 – October 3, 2005) was an American city planner, author, and social critic known for his critiques of automobile-centric development. His disappearance in 2005 and the discovery of his remains in 2011 received national media attention.
Early life and education
[edit]Schneider was born in Oasis, Millard County, Utah, to Berthold Leonard Schneider and Mandy Kelly. On the death of his father in 1934, his mother moved with her son and an infant daughter to Berkeley, California. Schneider served as a Marine in World War II. He graduated from UC Berkeley in Sociology and studied urban planning but never completed a master's degree. Before starting his career in city planning, Schneider taught for one year, 1954-1955, on the Hopi reservation, at the Shungopavi Day School, Second Mesa, Arizona.[1]
Career
[edit]Schneider was an urban planner, an urban planning consultant at the United Nations,[citation needed] and author of six published books. His writings combined urban theory, ecological awareness, and democratic ideals, advocating for human-centered development. He prepared plans for Fresno, Modesto and Bakersfield between 1955 and 1959, and again in Fresno in the early 1970's.[citation needed] He worked as an assistant to Albert Meyer from 1959 to 1960. He was with CARE from 1961 to 1964, first as a Special Representative in the Philippines, then as Chief of Mission in Sierra Leone and Jordan.[citation needed]
His most influential book, Autokind vs. Mankind: An Analysis of Tyranny, a Proposal for Rebellion, a Plan for Reconstruction (1971), criticized the dominance of automobiles in American life, describing them as "a social malignancy".[2][3]
Other published books include:
- Destiny of Change: How Relevant is Man in the Age of Development? (1968)[4]
- On the Nature of Cities: Toward Enduring and Creative Human Environments (1979)[5]
- The Runaway Economy: The Rhetoric is Growth, the Issue is Freedom (2004)[6]
- American Communities: The Next Human Advance, A New Class of Freedom (2005)[7]
- Forging A More Perfect Union: For a Grand Harmony of Cities, Democracy, Ecology (2005)[8]
Articles by Ken Schneider:
- — (October 1978). "Cities and the Population Implosion". International Social Work. 21 (4).
- — (September 1977). "Do American cities destroy freedom?". EKISTICS. 44 (262): 150–155.
- — (Fall 1973). "The Community's Role in Urban Planning". Cry California, The Journal of California Tomorrow. 8 (4): 26–34.
- — (March 1968). "Development Universities: Special Institutions for the New Nations". Society for International Development: International Development Review, journal, 1968 (Tenth Anniversary Issue): 17.
- — (1965). "Implications for Future Community Development from the Philippines Experience". International Review of Community Development. 13–14.[citation needed]
- — (February 1962). "Urbanization in the California Desert: Signs of Ultimate Dispersion". Journal of the American Institute of Planners. XXVIII (1).
Articles about and references to Ken Schneider:
- Taylor, Ron (February 10, 1974). "Planner: Let's End Fresno's 'Self-Destruct Cycle'". The Fresno Bee. pp. L1.
- Berger, Kevin (Nautilus Magazine Issue 34[9]) Editor's note, "City of Dreams"
Disappearance and death
[edit]Schneider retired and moved to Seattle, Washington, in 2001.[citation needed] In October 2005, Schneider left Seattle on a solo road trip to Utah to revisit his birthplace.[10] His car was later found abandoned near Canyonlands National Park with a note indicating he was walking to a nearby ranch. Despite extensive searches, he was not found at the time.
In April 2011, a hiker discovered a skull in the Utah desert.[11] A search was renewed, and accompanied by Schneider's daughter Leslie Schneider and her family, approximately 80% of his skeletal remains were recovered, along with personal items.[10] His remains were found about 3.1 miles (5.0 km) from his abandoned vehicle. The Utah Medical Examiner's office concluded that he likely succumbed to the elements.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ↑ Schiller, Preston L.; Kenworthy, Jeffrey R. (2010-08-12). An Introduction to Sustainable Transportation: Policy, Planning and Implementation. Routledge. p. 254. ISBN 978-1-136-54194-0.
- ↑ Mitarachi, Paul J. (1972). "Review of Civilizing American Cities; Autokind vs. Mankind; Anatomy of a Park". American Scientist. 60 (4): 509–510. ISSN 0003-0996.
- ↑ Schneider, Kenneth R. "Autokind Vs. Mankind; By Kenneth R. Schneider. 267 pp. Norton. $7.95". The New York Times. p. 148. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ↑ Boulding, Kenneth E. (June 1969). "Review of Destiny of Change: How Relevant is Man in the Age of Development?, by K. Schneider". Administrative Science Quarterly. 14 (2): 318. doi:10.2307/2391121.
- ↑ Fox, Rich (March 22, 1979). "The Nature of Cities". Northlander. p. 2.
- ↑ Schneider, Kenneth R. (2004). The Runaway Economy: The Rhetoric Is Growth, the Issue Is Freedom. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-31893-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Schneider, Kenneth R. (2005). American Communities: The Next Human Advance, a New Class of Freedom. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-33893-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Schneider, Kenneth R. (2005). Forging A More Perfect Union: For a Grand Harmony of Cities, Democracy, Ecology. iUniverse. ISBN 0595338178.
- ↑ https://nautil.us/shop/issues/issue-034/
- 1 2 Zhang, Chi-Chi (2011-05-22). "Mystery of dad's disappearance finally solved". The Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. p. 279. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
- ↑ Carlisle, Nate (May 2, 2011). "Five years after dad disappeared, daughter helps uncover his remains". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
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