The article explores how cities and urbanization are influenced by both economic factors and everyday life. It suggests that understanding the relationship between political economy and everyday urbanism is crucial. The researchers use a novel called The Chronicle of Zhalie to show how urbanization shapes people's lives and identities. They introduce the concepts of the urban desiring machine and a new idea of power to explain these dynamics. Ultimately, the study shows how urbanization affects how people think, act, and build their lives in cities.