Where is the intersection between happiness and urban design? Can transforming cities really help people be happier? Join Knoxville's new KAT director, Dawn Distler, as she reviews Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18 in the East Tennessee History Center auditorium, at this month's Books Sandwiched In, a program series of Knox County Public Library.

"It isn't parking spaces that lure people to the city," Distler says. "A cafe across the street from a bench under a tree, an open lane to ride a bike where cars will not push them out of the way, and a trolley to get them from the market to home make quality of life a reality and bring people to the heart of a 'Happy City.'"

Rich with new insights from psychology, neuroscience, and Montgomery's own urban experiments, Happy City reveals how cities can shape our thoughts as well as our behavior. The message is ultimately as surprising as it is hopeful: by retrofitting cities and our own lives for happiness, we can tackle the urgent challenges of our age. The happy city can save the world - and we can all help build it.

"This is a good book that could really help revolutionize many failing cities," Distler says.

Before coming to Knoxville, Distler was General Manager of operations and maintenance for Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and Regional Transportation Authority. She has nearly 25 years of professional experience in the transit industry, having begun her career as a bus operator. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of Phoenix, graduating with honors.

Books Sandwiched In continues April 15, when Knoxville Attorney Wanda Sobieski will discuss A Call to Action: Women, religion, violence and power by Jimmy Carter.