Six books that examine the human, social and political fall out from the worst natural calamities
, which together mean ill-starred. Disasters are borne of astrological misalignment. Or they are seen as acts of God. In either case, they are beyond human control. That is partly true. Humans do not cause earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions. Yet their impact has much to do with human decisions. As Andy Horowitz, a historian whose book appears on this list, has written, disasters prompt questions of whom to save, what to leave behind and who decides.
Hurricane Katrina was actually weaker than expected when it made landfall along Louisiana’s coast in August 2005. In New Orleans, 20 miles from the storm’s eye, it registered as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane—a designation signifying danger, not catastrophe. But the failure of the city’s levees, which were incomplete and poorly built, caused 80% of New Orleans to be inundated, making Katrina the costliest and among the deadliest American hurricanes.
“Bending Adversity” is not just a book about a disaster itself. It is one of the best written in English about Japan’s modern history, society, economy and politics. But the catalyst for the book, and the topic that frames it, is the calamity that struck on March 11th 2011, when a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck just off the coast of north-eastern Honshu, Japan’s main island, triggering a massive tsunami.
A survey of disasters by a sociologist, this book argues that they are “socially produced”—in other words, that their impact is determined by behaviours and practices embedded in society. The inadequate enforcement of building codes seen in Turkey and Syria is not uncommon. And yet the groups that profit often escape the economic costs when calamity strikes. These fall on homeowners, insurers and taxpayers.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ron DeSantis’s six-week abortion ban brings risks to womenAs well as to his chances of becoming president
Read more »
Six adults and child, 7, killed in shooting at Mexican holiday resortThe seven people were killed in a resort in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato.
Read more »
'Six dead' and 20 injured after mass shooting at teenager's birthday partyGraphic images shared on social media appeared to show a number of bodies on the ground
Read more »
Welsh Water boss defends pollution record and six-figure salaryThe head of Welsh Water has defended the company's record on pollution and his six-figure salary.
Read more »
Six games already confirmed for Game Pass next monthMicrosoft should soon be announcing the second wave of Xbox Game Pass titles for April — which we know will include the likes of The Last Case of Benedict Fox and Homestead Arcana — but what can we expect in May?
Read more »
Police probe SIX 'linked' and 'targeted' arson attacks in an hour of violenceBREAKING: Police probe series of SIX 'linked' and 'targeted' arson attacks in a single shocking HOUR of violence
Read more »