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Title details for A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit - Wait list

A Paradise Built in Hell

by Rebecca Solnit
ebook
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The author of Men Explain Things to Me explores the moments of altruism and generosity that arise in the aftermath of disaster
Why is it that in the aftermath of a disaster? whether manmade or natural?people suddenly become altruistic, resourceful, and brave? What makes the newfound communities and purpose many find in the ruins and crises after disaster so joyous? And what does this joy reveal about ordinarily unmet social desires and possibilities?
In A Paradise Built in Hell, award-winning author Rebecca Solnit explores these phenomena, looking at major calamities from the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco through the 1917 explosion that tore up Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She examines how disaster throws people into a temporary utopia of changed states of mind and social possibilities, as well as looking at the cost of the widespread myths and rarer real cases of social deterioration during crisis. This is a timely and important book from an acclaimed author whose work consistently locates unseen patterns and meanings in broad cultural histories.
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Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Kindle Book

  • Release date: August 31, 2010

OverDrive Read

  • ISBN: 9781101459010
  • Release date: August 31, 2010

EPUB ebook

  • ISBN: 9781101459010
  • File size: 735 KB
  • Release date: August 31, 2010
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Formats

Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
EPUB ebook

subjects

History Psychology Sociology Nonfiction

Languages

English

The author of Men Explain Things to Me explores the moments of altruism and generosity that arise in the aftermath of disaster
Why is it that in the aftermath of a disaster? whether manmade or natural?people suddenly become altruistic, resourceful, and brave? What makes the newfound communities and purpose many find in the ruins and crises after disaster so joyous? And what does this joy reveal about ordinarily unmet social desires and possibilities?
In A Paradise Built in Hell, award-winning author Rebecca Solnit explores these phenomena, looking at major calamities from the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco through the 1917 explosion that tore up Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She examines how disaster throws people into a temporary utopia of changed states of mind and social possibilities, as well as looking at the cost of the widespread myths and rarer real cases of social deterioration during crisis. This is a timely and important book from an acclaimed author whose work consistently locates unseen patterns and meanings in broad cultural histories.
Expand title description text
History Psychology Sociology Nonfiction