SKU: 96804195525

Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago

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Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in ChicagoOn Thursday, July 13, 1995, Chicagoans awoke to a blistering day in which the temperature would reach 106 degrees. The heat index, which measures how the temperature actually feels on the body, would hit 126 degrees by the time the day was over. Meteorologists had been warning residents about a two day heat wave, but these temperatures did not end that soon. When the heat wave broke a week later, city streets had buckled; the records for electrical

On Thursday, July 13, 1995, Chicagoans awoke to a blistering day in which the temperature would reach 106 degrees. The heat index, which measures how the temperature actually feels on the body, would hit 126 degrees by the time the day was over. Meteorologists had been warning residents about a two-day heat wave, but these temperatures did not end that soon. When the heat wave broke a week later, city streets had buckled; the records for electrical use were shattered; and power grids had failed, leaving residents without electricity for up to two days. And by July 20, over seven hundred people had perished-more than twice the number that died in the Chicago Fire of 1871, twenty times the number of those struck by Hurricane Andrew in 1992--in the great Chicago heat wave, one of the deadliest in American history.

Heat waves in the United States kill more people during a typical year than all other natural disasters combined. Until now, no one could explain either the overwhelming number or the heartbreaking manner of the deaths resulting from the 1995 Chicago heat wave. Meteorologists and medical scientists have been unable to account for the scale of the trauma, and political officials have puzzled over the sources of the city's vulnerability. In Heat Wave, Eric Klinenberg takes us inside the anatomy of the metropolis to conduct what he calls a social autopsy, examining the social, political, and institutional organs of the city that made this urban disaster so much worse than it ought to have been.

Starting with the question of why so many people died at home alone, Klinenberg investigates why some neighborhoods experienced greater mortality than others, how the city government responded to the crisis, and how journalists, scientists, and public officials reported on and explained these events. Through a combination of years of fieldwork, extensive interviews, and archival research, Klinenberg uncovers how a number of surprising and unsettling forms of social breakdown--including the literal and social isolation of seniors, the institutional abandonment of poor neighborhoods, and the retrenchment of public assistance programs--contributed to the high fatality rates. The human catastrophe, he argues, cannot simply be blamed on the failures of any particular individuals or organizations. For when hundreds of people die behind locked doors and sealed windows, out of contact with friends, family, community groups, and public agencies, everyone is implicated in their demise.

As Klinenberg demonstrates in this incisive and gripping account of the contemporary urban condition, the widening cracks in the social foundations of American cities that the 1995 Chicago heat wave made visible have by no means subsided as the temperatures returned to normal. The forces that affected Chicago so disastrously remain in play in America's cities, and we ignore them at our peril.

For the Second Edition Klinenberg has added a new Preface showing how climate change has made extreme weather events in urban centers a major challenge for cities and nations across our planet, one that will require commitment to climate-proofing changes to infrastructure rather than just relief responses.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 05/06/2015
ISBN: 9780226276182
Pages: 328
Weight: 1.06lbs
Size: 8.94h x 6.13w x 0.85d
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SKU: 96804195525

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Apple
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Good buy Pillowcases
Color: 08 - Sage Green, Size: King (20" X 36")
I bought these Bedsure king-size pillowcases from Amazon and overall I’m very happy with them. The first thing I noticed was how incredibly soft and smooth the fabric feels. They almost feel silky, which makes them very comfortable to sleep on. When you lay your head down, the material feels cool and gentle on the skin, which I really like. I also appreciate the zipper closure. It keeps the pillow securely inside the case and makes everything look neat and tidy on the bed. The zipper is hidden well and doesn’t feel bulky or uncomfortable. The only small downside is that the pillowcases are so smooth that the pillows can sometimes slide around or even slip off the bed a little. However, that’s really just because the material is so silky. Overall, I would still recommend these pillowcases. They are soft, comfortable, and feel like a nice upgrade compared to regular pillowcases.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Very nice pillowcases
Color: 06 - Beige, Size: Standard (20" X 26")
These pillowcases are really nice. They're soft and wash well. I really like the pocket on the end. It makes your pillows look nice and neat. The price is good too.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2026
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ShelbbLC
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 3
Love the sheets but GOSH THEY STINK
Color: 19 - Forest Green, Size: Queen (20" X 30")
I have the dark green sheets and bought these for extra cases to match. I would give them 5 stars if it weren’t for the fact that they smell absolutely horrible. I am so surprised after reading reviews that more people don’t mention it?! Maybe it’s more prominent in darker colors but I have washed these now 3 different times even with scent beads and still hate the smell. I wish I could accurately describe what it smells like— it’s just not good and for some reason, body heat only exacerbates it and makes the smell even worse and I wake up feeling like a smell like the sheets… which isn’t a good thing. Besides that, I do really enjoy them. They feel great on your skin and I love the color. I wish the smell didn’t kill them so badly for me ☹️
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2026
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Amy
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Comfy soft pillow covers
Color: 02 - White, Size: Queen (20" X 30"), Color: 02 - White, Size: Queen (20" X 30")
Absolutely love these pillow cases! I bought 2 sets. After I received them & washed & dried them they did remain wrinkly. I just went ahead and put them on my pillows & the wrinkles went away. I continue to love the feel, coolness & comfort. Will definitely buy more.
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Lisa Brown
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Great soft pillow cases
Color: 03 - Navy, Size: Standard (20" X 26")
Pillow cases are beautiful and soft, great quality. I had to return them because standard were too small. I am going to order queen instead.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2026

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