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The Making of a Pandemic
Social, Political, and Psychological Perspectives on Covid-19
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For Sharon, pandemic bubble mate, inspirer, collaborator, editor, and true love.
And for Rosa, Ben, Alex, Anna, Clara, and Nina.
In March 2020, as the country shut down, for the sake of my own mental health I began thinking about the pandemic itself, as opposed to the pandemic’s immediate impact on me, my family, and my community.
As those familiar with his work will recognize, my thinking was strongly influenced by the late, great microbiologist, disease ecologist, and environmentalist René Dubos. The 1960s–1970s revival of social medicine and of concern with the “social determinants of health,” the negative impact of the “medical-industrial complex” on health, and the “social control functions” of medicine also provided a framework. More recent writing on pandemics, especially by Mike Davis, David Quammen, and Rob Wallace, also contributed greatly to my own understanding.
The immediate ancestors of this book were three articles published in Public Seminar in 2020 and 2021. One addressed the debate over whether Covid-19 was the result of a lab leak; one explored the psychology of the “mass delusions” and conspiracy theories about the pandemic that were already beginning to surface; and one asked what lessons we could learn from our early experience with the pandemic. I am deeply indebted to Henry Abraham, Rosa Brooks, Barbara Ehrenreich, Ben Ehrenreich, Duncan Foley, Bob Lobis, Sharon McQuaide, the late Ken Porter, and David Socholitzky for their comments on drafts. Claire Potter and Helaine Olen, my editors at Public Seminar, also commented on the initial drafts, and the comments of Public Seminar readers added additional valuable insights.
Over the months that followed, like so many others I had virtually no face-to-face contact with people, but I did have weekly or biweekly Zoom groups with several sets of old friends. Our virtual meetings provided a rich source of personal support and practical ideas on how to cope with the pandemic as it evolved. They also were a source of numerous insights about the Covid-19 pandemic, popular responses to it, and pandemics in general. In addition to those listed above, my thanks to Dan Alkon, Jack Auspitz, Bill Berg, Alfred Guzzetti, Frank Hoeber, Wayne Saslow, Lincoln Taiz, the late Todd Gitlin, and Jon Weiner. I also polled a group of Facebook friends about what about the pandemic had “surprised” them. Laura Anker, Steve Cagan, Tom DelGiudice, Kevin Grunwald, and Hedva Lewittes responded in especially great depth, and I am grateful to all of them.
Rosa Brooks, Ben Ehrenreich, Duncan Foley, Alfred Guzzetti, Sharon McQuaide, and Lincoln Taiz all read the first draft of the entire book. I was wowed and honored by the close attention they gave to it. They called my attention to incomprehensible or awkward passages, corrected typos, contributed substantive ideas, and provided profound thoughts both about pandemics and about the process of writing a book. I am deeply grateful.
Writing a book took my mind off the actual pandemic (even as I was writing about it!), but, as anyone who has written a book knows, it can be highly stressful. The patience and support and love from my family – Rosa, Ben, Alex, Anna, Clara, and Baby Nu, and especially Sharon – made it a largely joyful experience. My love and thanks to all of you.
has doctorates in biology and psychology. He is professor emeritus at SUNY-Old Westbury, where he taught for many years. He has written widely on issues at the intersection of biology, psychology, sociology, and social policy. His previous books include The American Health Empire: Power, Profits, and Politics (with Barbara Ehrenreich and the staff of Health-PAC), The Cultural Crisis of Modern Medicine (edited), The Altruistic Imagination: A History of Social Work and Social Policy in the United States, and Third Wave Capitalism: How Money, Power, and the Pursuit of Self Interest Have Imperiled the American Dream.