Summary

The website content discusses two books on the COVID-19 pandemic, one by Slavoj Žižek, which explores the ideological implications and the potential impact on the working class, and another by Dr. Michael Mosley, which provides a scientific overview of the virus and the progress towards a vaccine.

Abstract

The first book, authored by Slavoj Žižek, delves into the societal and ideological changes brought about by the pandemic, focusing on the Marxist perspective and the potential emergence of a new class structure. Žižek's analysis is based on his previously published commentaries and does not delve into the origins of the virus but rather its impact on global order and the working class, which he suggests is being divided into 'self-employed' and 'self-exploited' categories. The second book, by Dr. Michael Mosley, offers a detailed scientific explanation of the coronavirus, its mechanisms of infection, and the immune response it triggers. Dr. Mosley addresses common questions about the virus and discusses the race for a vaccine, expressing optimism that one may be available by the end of 2020 or in 2021. The book concludes with a hopeful message about global unity in facing future challenges.

Opinions

The reviewer finds Žižek's book challenging to digest, noting that it seems to only consider sovereign state entities and overlooks international institutions, non-state actors, and post-materialist philosophy.
Žižek is seen as triggering brainstorming propositions about the post-pandemic world order and the working classes from a Marxist perspective.
Dr. Mosley's book is praised for its lucid scientific explanations and for filling gaps in the understanding of the coronavirus.
The reviewer appreciates Dr. Mosley's detailed responses to questions from his Twitter audience, which are presented in a question-answer format in the book's third chapter.
The reviewer endorses Dr. Mosley's book as a good resource for understanding the spread of the coronavirus and commends the author's optimistic outlook on the development of a vaccine and the global community's ability to overcome the pandemic.

Two Books on Coronavirus Pandemic

PANDEMIC ! COVID-19 Shakes the World

Author: Slavoj Žižek

Slavoj Žižek’s book is the first on the pandemic. Ten chapters of the book feature different write-ups of author that have already been in various media platforms as opinions or commentary.

In the book, author does not try to investigate the roots causes of the pandemic. Rather, he deals about the panic into the order and sheds light on how ideological issues are going to get evolved during this strange time span. Author is familiar as Marxist philosopher and in the book, he cleaves himself into domain of Marxism. This triggers some brainstorming propositions as to the post pandemic world order and working classes.

In the book, while hypothetically contending about new normal, social distancing, in the time of Coronavirus, author brings Marxist conscience. Author views that lock-down and work at home have bifurcated the working class into ‘self-employed’ and ‘self-exploited’ working. Through this classification author tries to indicate emergence of a new class of privileged workers.

To be frank, this book was not easy for me to skim through. In what is sure to be a controversial appraisal, the way author enumerates the present world order, it appears to anyone that he only takes into account of sovereign state entities. Discussion on International institutions, non-state actors and post-materialist philosophy are put aside.

COVID-19: What You Need to Know About the CORONAVIRUS and the Race for Vaccine

Author: Dr Michael Mosley

This recently published (June 2, 2020) book is quite densely written with lucid scientific explanations.

In the book, Dr Michael Mosley enumerates in detailed the fatal features of the coronavirus, which is also known as SARS-CoV-2. All the discussions of the book are based upon contemporary scientific discoveries.

In first chapter, Dr Mosley meticulously explains: (a) how does the virus get into the human body by evading the innate immune system, which is familiar as first line of defense of human body; (b) how does the virus deceive the adaptive part of the human immune system, by falsely activating ‘T-Killer Cells’.

In third chapter of the book author answers in detailed the questions asked to him through his twitter handle. Therefore, the third chapter of the book is drafted into question-answer formats. These questions include but not limited to: (a) variations of coronavirus; (b) how is this Coronavirus different from that of the SARS or MERS? (c )whether this virus is human made; (d) how does it spread, etc.

Regarding vaccine against Coronavirus, in chapter five, author opines that:

‘… it is possible that at least of them will come through the rigorous testing that is required if not by the end of 2020, certainly by 2021.’

The concluding paragraph of the book is worth mentioning:

‘It is going to be long hard road back to any form of normality. But if you are an optimist, which I am, you have to hope that this pandemic will bring out the best in us and bring the world together to deal more effectively with future global challenges.’

This book of Dr Michael Mosley is really a good that finely fills up some gaps on understanding the Coronavirus spreading.

That’s all for this post.

Always wash your hands with soaps. Stay safe.

Photo by United Nations COVID-19 Response on Unsplash