Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an American-Canadian writer, urbanist, and activist best known for her influential work on urban planning and city development. Her seminal book, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," published in 1961, critiqued the urban renewal policies of the time, which she argued destroyed communities and created isolated, unnatural urban spaces. Jacobs championed the interests of local residents and the importance of community-based planning, advocating for vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods with a strong sense of place. Her ideas reshaped modern understanding of how cities function and foster community, and her legacy remains powerful in the fields of urban studies, sociology, and economics.