This edited book brings together essays on America’s political responses to the covid epidemic. By situating the state’s response at the forefront of the public health’s crisis, the authors show how the state’s rationale was to maintain the existing social order, positioned the economy at the expense of saving lives, and ultimately drive an ideological wedge between Democrats and Republicans around the issue of life and death. This is an important read for critical thinkers interested in the larger question of why crises or black swan events do not lead to social change or political realignment.

Randolph Hohle, State University of New York at Fredonia

A thoughtful, well-research, and timely collection of perspectives, this volume gives its readers not only much to think about, but the opportunity to put those thoughts into action.

Kenneth Varner, UNLV College of Education