Review of 'A Paradise Built in Hell' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A Paradise Built in Hell[1] by Rebecca Solnit is chicken soup for the soul of people paying attention to the world right now.
After studying the field of disaster sociology, Hobbes “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” view of humanity falls apart through extensive studies of disasters across the globe. People tend to join in community in disaster if they don’t believe their neighbors are coming with a shotgun to kill them. The mutual aid of people who give themselves to the moment in disaster to serve those around them is so common as to be considered hardwired into whatever “human nature” is.
My regurgitation of Solnit’s arguments is unlikely to convince you of much. However, many influential authors have reveled in the hope Solnit brings to us in A Paradise Built in Hell. Cory Doctorow wrote a book that holds Solnit’s ideas in the core of the narrative called …
A Paradise Built in Hell[1] by Rebecca Solnit is chicken soup for the soul of people paying attention to the world right now.
After studying the field of disaster sociology, Hobbes “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” view of humanity falls apart through extensive studies of disasters across the globe. People tend to join in community in disaster if they don’t believe their neighbors are coming with a shotgun to kill them. The mutual aid of people who give themselves to the moment in disaster to serve those around them is so common as to be considered hardwired into whatever “human nature” is.
My regurgitation of Solnit’s arguments is unlikely to convince you of much. However, many influential authors have reveled in the hope Solnit brings to us in A Paradise Built in Hell. Cory Doctorow wrote a book that holds Solnit’s ideas in the core of the narrative called Walkaway[2]. Robert Evans combined his knowledge of accelerationism and modern insurgent warfare and ideas from this book to provide listeners with a path after his reality shattering podcast series It Could Happen Here [3].
Follow the golden rule and you’ll show up to the disaster with a covered dish. Fear your neighbors and you’ll show up to disaster with a shotgun and an itchy finger.
[1] slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/258355980
[2] slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1379898116
[3] www.iheart.com/.../1119-it-could-happen-here.../
