A Paradise Built in Hell

This is the title of a new book by Rebecca Solnit, reviewed here by The New York Times:

Delighted by the Joy of Bad Things

The book examines how people can find a sense of joy and purpose in times of disaster -- times when business-as-usual ceases. She makes a case that top-down intervention can dampen this community spirit, purposefulness, and resourcefulness. To me, this suggests that we don't have to be so afraid of disasters; they may bring out the best in us.