Heat Wave

This accessible sociological study of a 1995 heat wave in Chicago sees it as both a natural disaster and one charged with layers and layers of political and social significance. Over 700 people died. Who were they? Why so many? That many of them were elderly and living alone is one explanation--and Klinenberg starts there and further inquires as to the culpability of Chicago politics and media in their roles as contributory factors--as well as issues relating to race, ethnicity, income levels, neighborhoods and streets, and ways of talking about the weather but doing nothing about its effects.