Read this for class. Damn, these sociological dissections of disaster are pretty fabulous (from the ones I've reviewed so far). Dealt with systemic neglect of marginalised communities within Chicago. I found it fascinating how a state's prior management (or lack of) of their city could result in such destructive consequences.

Klinenberg has completed an extensive examination of the 1995 heat wave in Chicago by looking into the social and cultural conditions, the political ramifications and tne institutional aspects of the disaster.

The many deaths were mainly the old and the poor, living alone, who endured a culture of fear (fear of criminal activity in their area) and lack of safe public spaces. These individuals died alone, unprotected and uncared for. All these conditions formed this disaster.

The areas with the least number of deaths weren't distinctive because of ethnic or racial makeup. They weren't affected by ecological depletion, collapse of local infrastructure and commerce, population decline, and high levels of violent criminal activity.

City government failed to see/understand the threat on people's lives. The police and fire departments were over-worked and there was no ability to coordinate services or even recognize the situation existed. Top city officials tried to gloss over the event as much as possible.

I actually quite like a book that is so clear about its framework, methodology, etc. Reminds me of my debate days, or whatever.

Interesting topic, but reads like a dissertation for the first few chapters. Then he really makes you think about how these "natural" disasters are framed in public debate by government entities, who are engaged in CYA, and media, which thrives on controversy and human interest. Because of these often complementary interests, the deeper, more complex issues are rarely voiced in public forums.

I was very worried that this book would fall into Kunstler "Long Emergency" territory and just keep repeating the same message over and over, but it did not. This was a great read. Each chapter takes you into a new aspect of the heat wave of 1995, each more disturbing than the last. If you haven't totally lost your faith in politicians and government, this book will get you there and encourage you to add journalists to your list of deplorable human beings.
A great book for non-Chicagoans, too. You don't have to know anything about the city or the heat wave to appreciate this book.

I decided to write a paper on social and political dysfunction before, during, and after natural disasters. This was a perfect book to help me in my research, so I used the 1995 heat wave as my case study for my paper.

This book was very interesting, and it shed light on the dysfunction that is rampant in urban America that leads to tragedies like the Chicago heat wave, or Katrina. The poor, the elderly, and the isolated are forgotten about in society which directly contributes to their demise during a disaster. Plus, the modern forms of governance are not built in a way that can support those who do not actively seek services - which the most vulnerable people often do not.

It's a heavy read, but not too dense. I really recommend it if you want to look at urban dysfunction in the face of a tragedy because this book lays it all on the line. You can see where certain aspects are found in cities across America, and not just specific to Chicago. Definitely a must read for anyone who is in to social justice, governance, or disaster planning.

We're so screwed

The first half of this book, detailing the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave that killed 739 people, is actually quite fascinating. The majority of the deaths were isolated elderly people who lived in poverty-ridden areas, and Klinenberg does an excellent job detailing the social causes for their deaths. The elderly poor victims often had no surviving family members in the area to check on them and were socially isolated, often due to high crime in their neighborhoods. Living on meager social security checks, they could not afford air conditioners or the cost of running them, and did not open their windows for fear their homes would be invaded. Living check to check means that they could not afford to lose any possessions because they would not be able to replace them, so they would not take the risk. Instead, they overheated and died in their prison-like apartments.

One contrast that I found especially interesting was between my own neighborhood of Little Village on the West Side of Chicago, and the neighborhood immediately adjacent- North Lawndale. Little Village, a Mexican neighborhood, had a very low rate of heat-related illness, whereas North Lawndale, an African-American neighborhood, had many deaths. The social explanation for this discrepancy related to the Mexican cultural emphasis on family and looking out for the elderly, which resulted in providing care that was not provided in North Lawndale.

However, after the first third or so of the book, I found it very dull - much like reading a thesis paper, with few real life examples and many generalizations about the political structure of Chicago and the media presentation of the disaster. Some people might find that stuff interesting, but I ended up skimming the last half of the book. Overall, though, it's a worthwhile read - as well as a warning of tragedies that may await many cities in America in our warmer future.

The length of time I took to read this is not a reflection of my thoughts on its quality (it got lost in my apartment for a while). Although it is a bit dense and academic, this is exactly the kind of writing I'd like to see more of in the planning field. It's rigorous, thoughtful, well researched (through primary and secondary sources) and concludes with a strong policy-based agenda. It was also great to read this while riding around Chicago's South Side.

A great social history of Chicago and urban America fashioned around a "natural disaster". Like Katrina there was nothing natural about the hundreds of deaths that occurred in Chicago's 1995 Heat Wave. Klinenberg writes well and makes a compelling narrative about life in Chi'Town.

I was recently stunned by the fact that Cook County had the highest number of weather-related deaths of any county in the U.S. over the last several decades. This includes New Orleans and other areas prone to Hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. The main driver was the heat wave of 1995 which caused more than 700 deaths.
Eric Klineberg's "social autopsy" of the Chicago heat wave looks at the social isolation of seniors who lived in high-crime neighborhoods and were afraid to leave their houses or open the windows during the heat wave.
It is a cautionary tale as weather becomes more extreme in the U.S., and more poor seniors live alone. Also, the declining funding for human services: "This book has shown that extreme exogenous forces such as the climate have been so disastrous partly because of the emerging isolation and privatization, the extreme social and economic inequalities, and the concentrated zones of affluence and poverty pervasive in contemporary cities creates hazards for vulnerable residents ..."
So, while billions are poured into regions hit by hurricanes to rebuild physical infrastructure, its the human infrastructure and social institutions that are often neglected.

The author strikes a difficult balance between „entertainment“ and reporting research. That is not easy. However, thanks to all of the stories and personal notes, the book was both informative and engaging.