Join other readers for a lively discussion of this year's One City One Book selection, A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit.
This book explores our need for community and common purpose, which Solnit argues are fundamental to democratic forms of social and political life. Blending reportage and analysis, the book surveys natural and man-made disasters including the ’06 earthquake, the Halifax explosion of 1917, the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, the Sept. 11th attacks, and Hurricane Katrina. Solnit takes a positive view of human behavior showing that disasters can actually create a sense of community and purposefulness. A community’s typical response to catastrophe is self-organization and mutual aid–truly democracy in action–with neighbors and strangers rescuing, feeding and housing each other.
Visit sfpl.org/onecityonebook for more information about programs, book club discussion questions and more.
Related Exhibitions and Events
- Mission Branch Book Club
- Monday, June 24, 2013
Mission - Great Books Discussion Group
- Wednesday, June 26, 2013
West Portal - Rincón Literario: El Manuscrito de Nieve
- Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Main Library, Paley Room - Floor 3 - Bernal Book Club
- Thursday, June 27, 2013
Bernal Heights - The Boris Rozenfeld Russian Bibliophiles Club
- Saturday, June 29, 2013
Main Library, Latino/Hispanic B - Sunset Book Group
- Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Sunset - Great Books Discussion Group
- Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Presidio - Teen Book Club
- Saturday, July 6, 2013
Ortega - Great Books Discussion Group
- Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Noe Valley/Sally Brunn - Tertulias Literarias
- Monday, July 15, 2013
Mission Cultural Center
