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A review by bendebec
A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster by Rebecca Solnit
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
A enjoyable book with a different perspective.
You often get the impression from modern media that humans are only a hair-width away from being the worst possible creatures, but this book argues that humans are much kinder and decent than that when the "chips are on the table".
It argues this using the evidence from multiple disaster sites, and shows how people spontaneously managed to organise and treat each other kindly, and if anything, it was the established powers that made things worse.
I would also recommend the book "Humankind" to reinforce this point.
There were powerful emotional moments in this book discussing the people's stories, it's the kind of book I wish more people would read. I think society would be better if we recognise the fundamental kindness present in others
Although something in the writing was quite repetitive, and I had to force myself through some parts.
You often get the impression from modern media that humans are only a hair-width away from being the worst possible creatures, but this book argues that humans are much kinder and decent than that when the "chips are on the table".
It argues this using the evidence from multiple disaster sites, and shows how people spontaneously managed to organise and treat each other kindly, and if anything, it was the established powers that made things worse.
I would also recommend the book "Humankind" to reinforce this point.
There were powerful emotional moments in this book discussing the people's stories, it's the kind of book I wish more people would read. I think society would be better if we recognise the fundamental kindness present in others
Although something in the writing was quite repetitive, and I had to force myself through some parts.