David Shenk, author of the new book “The Genuis In All Of Us , has an short essay in the Brooklyn Paper about why he loves Park Slope. Here’s an excerpt:

The Park Slope I live in is an exceedingly friendly and welcoming place where people work hard but also make time for family, where parents care deeply about the quality of their kids’ education, where most destination is walkable or bikeable, and where extreme wealth disparities are discreetly hidden from view.

Are there disappointments and annoyances? Sure. The parking sucks (“Park Nope”) and the food on Seventh Avenue is consistently mediocre. There isn’t a single authentic Chinese restaurant. Various city agencies prey on our relative wealth by ticketing us for the most ridiculous things — absurd garbage infractions and front door lights that may not be quite the correct wattage (this really happened). The Finance Department is virtually at war with co-ops, unfairly manipulating taxes whenever it can find an excuse.

But overall, this is a neighborhood that makes New York living startlingly desirable. The park is close and lovely — getting cleaner and better all the time. Subway access is fairly spectacular (less so on weekends). Many mom and pop businesses are still intact. There’s decent coffee, good produce, and community theater. On a sunny Saturday, the farmer’s market at Grand Army Plaza is as life-affirming as a place can be.