This book argues that though many natural disasters are outside of human control, their effects are exacerbated by our shortsightedness — developers build brick buildings in earthquake zones or large cities in areas prone to hurricanes, for instance. Muir-Wood examines cases of earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions over centuries — from the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 to Hurricane Katrina — to show how corporate and political interests have made these disasters more devastating. He places some blame on journalists as well, writing that they feature the heroism of search-and-rescue teams but do not report on systemic issues. Though taking precautionary measures may not necessarily boost politicians’ popularity, Muir-Wood argues that they are needed to reduce the outsized effects of storms and other disasters on society.

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ZEITOUN

By Dave Eggers

351 pp. McSweeney’s Books. (2009)

In this work of narrative nonfiction, Eggers follows Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian-American who stayed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina while his wife, Kathy, a Southern Baptist who converted to Islam, flees with their children. Abdulrahman purchases a 16-foot aluminum canoe as a precaution but is convinced he can weather the storm. In the days after the hurricane hits land, he paddles around the city and rescues residents trapped in collapsing homes. Then one day, six armed officers show up at his house and take him away at gunpoint. He is mistaken for a terrorist, locked in a cage and subjected to a series of other humiliations. Eggers toggles between Syria and the United States to explore Abdulrahman’s family. The result is an incisive look at how counterterrorism and Katrina colored life in the Bush era. Our reviewer wrote that “50 years from now, when people want to know what happened to this once-great city during a shameful episode of our history, they will still be talking about a family named Zeitoun.”

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SALVAGE THE BONES

By Jesmyn Ward

261 pp. Bloomsbury. (2011)

This novel follows a family — 14-year-old Esch, her three brothers, and their alcoholic father — in the 12 days leading up to Hurricane Katrina, presenting each day as its own vignette. Each character has concerns other than besides the storm, which arrives on the final day and chapter: Esch’s love interest, Manny, may have gotten her pregnant, but wants nothing to do with her; her father is busy preparing for the storm; and Skeetah, one of her brothers, has a pit bull that has just given birth and tries to sneak out scraps from their scarce supply of food. The book, which won the 2011 National Book Award for fiction, uses heady language to describe Esch’s desire and weaves in Greek mythology for a fantastical effect. Our reviewer, Parul Sehgal, wrote that the book “feels fresh and urgent, but it’s an ancient, archetypal tale” reminiscent of “Noah or Gilgamesh or any soggy group of humans and dogs huddled together, waiting out an apocalyptic act of God or weather.”