Description
Book SynopsisThis book raises questions about what really matters through its account of Japanâs March 11, 2011, triple catastrophe of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown, exploring the relationship between culture, community, and disaster.
Trade ReviewThis intensely moving account not only teaches us invaluable lessons regarding our societal ability to respond to disaster but, in providing extraordinary insights into the meaning of vulnerability and suffering, it also demonstrates the absolute necessity of cultivating interpersonal face-to-face connectedness and community in order to heal—a lesson that is particularly important in our individualistic, technology-saturated, digital culture. -- S. Kay Toombs, Baylor University
With this engaging book, Brannigan keeps a promise he made to his late Japanese mother—to learn more about the disasters of 3/11 and to share this with others. Brannigan effortlessly interweaves stories from the people he meets with his own rich knowledge of literature, legends, history, and philosophy to develop a philosophy of human's relation with nature. This book is not always optimistic, but always reveals Brannigan’s warmth and genuine concern for the people he encounters. -- Brigitte Steger, University of Cambridge
In this pioneering work, Brannigan opens wide the doors on a previously understudied subject in the humanities and social sciences—disaster, trauma, and recovery. A rich and rewarding read for anyone interested in ethics and philosophy, this book is a must for all concerned with disaster preparedness and response, victimhood, grief management, mental health, medical ethics, and public policy, as well as Japanese and cultural studies. -- Robert Paul Churchill, Elton Professor of Philosophy, George Washington University
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Unhinged Chapter 2: Precariously In-Between: Desperation and Moral Grit Chapter 3: Who Is Our Neighbor? The Tono Lifeline Chapter 4: Akiko’s Lantern Chapter 5: Community and Connectedness: Bunzo and Jin Chapter 6: Volunteering – Cold, Snow, Rain, Wind, and Mud Chapter 7: Fukushima’s Unseen Monster Conclusion: The Big One
