First published 2009
When disaster strikes, people often band together in unexpected ways. Award-winning author Rebecca Solnit explores this phenomenon, from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to Hurricane Katrina. In the ruins, she finds not chaos, but a "temporary utopia" - a fleeting window where altruism, resourcefulness, and joy emerge. Solnit uncovers the profound social desires and possibilities that disasters can unlock, even as they devastate. At its core, A Paradise Built in Hell is a hopeful examination of human nature at its best, and what it means to build meaningful community in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Genres: non-fiction, 21st-century, activism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: hopeful, social-commentary
Setting: San Francisco, Hurricane Katrina
Period: 1906, 21st-century
353 pages · Hardcover · Viking Adult