Earlier this month, UCLA ITS hosted a celebration for the release of The Shoup Doctrine, a new book honoring the life, work and impact of the late Donald Shoup. Edited by Daniel Hess, one of Shoup’s former graduate students, the book is a collection of essays from 37 contributors — city planners, economists, journalists, and parking professionals — whose ideas and careers were shaped by Shoup’s work. 

The book launch took place on Oct. 3 at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center, where hundreds of colleagues, students, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate Shoup’s life. The event also included the official launch of the UCLA Center for Parking Policy. 

During the program, Hess shared insights from the making of The Shoup Doctrine. He described Shoup as “a teacher, mentor, and friend,” a relationship that went back to the 1990s when Hess was a graduate student. 

More than 20 years later, Hess had the opportunity to return to UCLA while on sabbatical from the University of Buffalo. Upon his return, he approached Shoup with an idea to write a book about his life and the tremendous influence he has had on cities around the world. 

“In true Donald fashion, he said, ‘no,’” Hess recalled.

Typical of his sense of humor (and modesty), Shoup was open to a book about parking reforms, just not a book about himself. The Shoup Doctrine, Hess said, became “a compromise of both.” Chapters feature a mixture of personal reflections from former colleagues and students as well as commentaries from practitioners on how his theories have transformed policy and practice.

Shoup was deeply involved in the project from the start. In addition to writing the opening chapter, he carefully reviewed and edited every essay alongside Hess. Reflecting on the process, Hess recalled one of his mentor’s famous lines: “Easy reading is hard writing.” Shoup believed in clear, concise writing that makes complex ideas accessible to everyone — and The Shoup Doctrine would be no exception. 

To conclude his talk, Hess recognized the contributing authors who were in attendance and honored Pat Shoup, Donald’s wife, for her longtime contributions to his work. Pat was presented with a special edition of The Shoup Doctrine.

Pat shared a few remarks about what The Shoup Doctrine meant to Donald as one of his last publications. Fondly recalling his sense of humor, she shared one of his quips after he had overcome his initial hesitation about the project: “Not many people have the chance to read over 30 eulogies before they leave.”

“Even when he knew he had to leave us,” Pat said, “he said he was very grateful to have the book in his final days.”