Review of the book "A Paradise Built in Hell" by Rebecca Solnit

1. A Paradise Built in Hell: Prelude &
Epilogue
Rebecca Solnit
One of the most powerful opinion shaper on “Disaster Sociology”

2. Context: Based on Case Studies
• the San Francisco earthquake of 1906
• the 1917 explosion of the munitions ship
Mont Blanc in Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Mexico City's 1985 earthquake
• the World Trade Center attacks of 2001
• Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

4. The Book
• Reinforces the argument that the community is
the first responder in the event of a disaster.
• It is about positive endeavor or human
philanthropy in the event of a disaster.
• It is not about well known philanthropist but
ordinary people like us.
• Shatters the myth/the general perception that in
the event of a disaster the community will
panic, react selfishly and are cowards.
• Disaster survivors do not rape, loot, murder.
Decline in crime.

5. Highlights contd..
• Elite panic and worsens the situation (rich
people, the media and the government)
• Hazards are natural but it becomes a bigger
disaster due to mismanagement by the
government.
• Unexamined belief of the government and the
elites towards the community based on myth and
rumor mongering.
• It helps us understand society in a better way.
“The very concept of society rest upon the idea
of networks of affinity and affection”.

6. Reviews
1. Impassioned challenge to the social meaning of
disaster: New York Times
2. Case for sheer dignity and decency of people
coming together: Los Angeles Times
3. Full of moving transcendent acts by individuals:
san Francisco Chronicle
4. A withering critique of modern capitalist society:
The Washington Post
5. The freshest, deepest, most optimistic account
of human nature I've come across in years: Bill
McKibben

7. Words of Caution
“Disasters are, most
basically, terrible, tragic, grievous
and no matter what positive side
effects and possibilities they
produce, they are not to be desired.”
(Solnit: 2010, pg 6)

8. Relevance
• Increased frequency and intensity of disasters
• Impact of climate change
• Lack of resources
• Inaccessibility: Community left to fend
themselves
• Builds on the capacity of the community:
bottom up approach
• Proactive rather than reactive

9. Some Prominent Disasters
• The Gujarat Earthquake
• The drought and desertification process in sub-
Sahara
• The Indian Ocean Tsumani
• Cyclone Nargis: Myanmar and
• The Pakistan Flood
“They matter immensely but language and distance
as well as culture kept these disaster out of reach
for me.” (Solnit, pg 8)

10. Points to Ponder
• Does the community behave differently when
there they are poor and marginalized leading to
the scarcity of resources?
• Is the behavior of people dependent on socio-
cultural context?
• Why is the altruism of the community evident
during a disaster? Why not during normal times?
• Can this argument be applied in the event of
other humanitarian crisis like internal
conflict, riots, wars?
• Can this argument be applied universally?

11. Thank You