Examines the political and social problems that underlie and exacerbate the effects of disasters, be they natural or "man-made." This book argues that media reports during Hurricane Katrina worked to deny or disguise institutionalized racism, suppressing potential dissent and controversy. It also explores the conditions of life in Detroit.

A contributor explores the devastating conditions of everyday life in Detroit that no longer register in the political imaginary of the United States. Another investigates the connection between unusual weather events and the workings of the Communist Party in Poland. Finally, renowned architect Isozaki Arata plays with the idea of urban planning in two short fables introduced by Fredric Jameson.

Contributors: Eric Cazdyn, Isobel Frye, Jerry Herron, Peter Hitchcock, Isozaki Arata, Fredric Jameson, Walter Kalaidjian, Leszek Koczanowicz, Leah Schinasi, Neil Smith, Carol A. Stabile, Imre Szeman, Steven Wing