Surviving Our Catastrophes: Resilience and Renewal from Hiroshima to the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Robert Jay Lifton

From the National Book Award winner, a powerful and timely rumination on how we can draw on historical examples of “survivor power” to understand the upheaval and death caused by the COVID-19 pandemic—and collectively heal

"Lifton shows us why we must confront reality in order to save democracy." —Peter Balakian, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of  Ozone Journal

In this moving and ultimately hopeful meditation on the psychological aftermath of catastrophe, award-winning psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton calls forth his life’s work to show us how to cope with the lasting effects and legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result is a thought-provoking examination of life in the face of COVID-19 from one of the most profound thinkers of our time.
When the people of Hiroshima experienced the unspeakable horror of the atomic bombing, they responded by creating an activist “city of peace.” Survivors of the Nazi death camps took the lead in combating mass killing of any kind and converted their experience into art and literature that demonstrated the resilience of the human spirit. Drawing on the remarkably life-affirming responses of survivors of such atrocities, Lifton, “one of the world’s foremost thinkers on why we humans do such awful things to each other” (Bill Moyers), shows readers how we can carry on and live meaningful lives even in the face of the tragic and the absurd.
Surviving Our Catastrophes offers compelling examples of “survivor power” and makes clear that we will not move forward by denying the true extent of the pandemic’s destruction. Instead, we must truly reckon with COVID-19’s effects on ourselves and society—and find individual and collective forms of renewal.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, History, Japan, Climate Change

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 22, 2025

About the author

Robert Jay Lifton was an American psychiatrist and author, chiefly known for his studies of the psychological causes and effects of wars and political violence, and for his theory of thought reform. He was an early proponent of the techniques of psychohistory.

Reviews

[Brandon Westlake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great distillation of Lifton's life work. (In fact, I credit his Nazi Doctors book with helping me gain a deeper appreciation of the human side of history and helping me realize that history, in the end, is about people). This is a very personable book, as he combines his research on Hiroshima survivors with his reflections of living and surviving during COVID. As I read, I was really curious about what spurred him to write this book. Was it the struggle of managing to live through a pandemic? Was it a reflection of his work and research on humanity and its psychological condition? I feel like this book closes the door on a long, successful, and insightful career, but one that contributes much to the understanding of the human experience.

Lifton looks at all aspects of catastrophe and how people manage to persevere. In some instances, it is a harrowing read. In others, it conveys hope. One of the more insightful chapters, in my opinion, is "The Mourning Paradox" about the effects of Vietnam and connecting it to the way we deal with grief. It includes insights regarding COVID, the AIDS crisis, and Primo Levi's words about Auschwitz.

Surviving Our Catastrophes is one of Lifton's shorter works, but don't think you'll gobble this up in a short period of time. I encourage you to read it slowly, taking in his thoughts and conclusions, and gain a deeper understanding of how we manage to deal with the tragedies we face.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly interesting man
who tackled a lot of subjects

and a strange history

wikispooks

Robert Jay Lifton is a psychologist who has been particularly interested in the relationship between individual psychology and historical change, and in problems surrounding the extreme historical situations of our era. He has taken an active part in the formation of the new field of psychohistory.

Lifton - like other academics researching mind control and (manipulative) influence tactics 1960-1975 - had a high CIA security clearance.

He helped popularize the term "brainwashing", attributed solely to the enemy du jour, i.e. communist countries at the time.

......

Criticism of the War on Terror

In his 2000 book, Destroying the World to Save It: Aum Shinrikyo, Apocalyptic Violence, and the New Global Terrorism, Lifton applied his original ideas about thought reform to Aum Shinrikyo and the War on Terror, concluding that in this context thought reform was possible without violence or physical coercion. He also pointed out that governments were also using mind control techniques including thought-terminating clichés to promote the "war on terror".

[Luis Cuesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Robert Jay Lifton writes with the authority of experience to show us how to cope with the lasting effects and legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. His essay offers compelling examples of “survivor power” and makes clear that we will not move forward by forcing the pandemic into the rearview mirror. Instead, we must truly reckon with COVID-19’s effects on ourselves and society—and find individual and collective forms of renewal.
To make this approach successful he has focused on survivors on multiple catastrophe to find the keys to social renewal after disasters strike.
When the people of Hiroshima experienced the unspeakable horror of the atomic bombing, they responded by creating an activist “city of peace.” Survivors of the Nazi death camps took the lead in combating mass killing of any kind and converted their experience into art and literature that demonstrated the resilience of the human spirit. Drawing on the remarkably life-affirming responses of survivors of such atrocities, Lifton shows us how we can carry on and live meaningful lives even in the face of the tragic and the absurd.

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving Our Catastrophes: Resilience and Renewal from Hiroshima to the COVID-19 Pandemic by Robert Jay Lifton is a book that not only speaks of the greatest catastrophes and atrocities of our generations, but also of the greatest hope that has been found in those who have not only survived, but thrived after these atrocities have happened. 'Survivor Power' is the thread that Lifton weaves in how humanity has recovered and moved forward in leading meaningful lives and not allowing the circumstances to define our worth. While a shorter book than his others, it is not a fast read, but one that leaves us marveling over just how hope endures. Very well done!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

[Vicky Wittuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that sparked reflection for me.
I am so glad I won it in the Goodreads Giveaway!
I have always felt that you cannot deny or try to eliminate history as a way of dealing with catastrophes. I always believed that history is very important to survival and finding ways to move forward without history repeating itself. Thank you to Dr. Robert Jay Lifton for summarizing these and other examples of survival not only of those who experienced these tragedies but those that live with the history. Many examples in the book of how we move forward with renewal by being resilient!
I am just afraid where our nation and world are today,
It is going to be a massive challenge.

[Frodo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant reminder that catastrophic events like a world war, pandemics like Covid and climate crisis create enormous pressure on the survivors to build on the wisdom, knowledge, and experience learned during the catastrophic events. If we fail to do so and retreat to isolation and denial, the consequences are daunting. If we are to survive as a species, we need to live into this message of hope.

[Thomas Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but essential read that illustrates the life world of one of our most brilliant thinkers. From meaning making to counterfeit nurturing RJL provides the terms to understand much of our recent history. Like the recent “Myth of Closure” (Boss), this is a critical must read for those trying to understand the endless reverberations of 9/11.

[Deborah Shedrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the child and grandchild of survivors, I have spent time searching for more understanding of the inter generational trauma I experienced all my life and how this shaped me and my actions. This was a very helpful book, especially understanding the differences between a victim and a survivor, and how this shapes people’s path forwards in life. Thank you for this book.

[Susan Collinsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatever you may think of Covid-19 and the pandemic ( I say this because I know plenty of people on every side of the issue), there are things we can apply to other extreme circumstances.

Mr Lifton brings his years of experience to exploring how to respond to any catastrophe, actual or mental.

[Ana Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and accessible.