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Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith: How Religion Ruined Our Global Pandemic
Why did America do so badly?When the COVID-19 crisis reached America, the US had more resources and expertise at its disposal to confront the threat than any nation on the planet, and yet the American response was homicidally inefficient. Why?In this book, I argue that the root of the problem is America’s religiosity. A crisis that only science could meet threatened to expose the impotence of religious claims, and religious leaders and institutions went on the attack. Any hope of a rational, scientifically informed response was crippled by a presidential administration elected by religious zealots, staffed by religious zealots, and beholden to religious zealots. But their malfeasance was not limited to the political arena.From churches ignoring state lockdowns, to televangelists declaring the disease miraculously eradicated, to pastors suing their governors for enforcing public safety measures, religion was at the forefront of virtually every misguided step towards catastrophe that the nation took.When science eventually solves this problem, religions will be quick to thank their gods for the scientist’s labor and forgive themselves their trespasses. We cannot afford to give them such easy absolution. Their disastrous contributions to our national pandemic response are a potent reminder that a nation in the twenty-first century can ill afford to let anyone compete with science in the realm of truth.
254 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2020
123 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 20, 2020
An excellent book which clearly and concisely lays out the foundation for how religion fashioned its poisonous hold in our government and particularly our judicial system, and how the multitude of failures (by the Trump administration and others) exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic. It's simple, easy read, despite being extensively well-researched with hundreds of footnotes to back up each claim. It would undoubtedly make a great Christmas gift for anyone in your family who likes to claim that religion is getting people through the pandemic.
December 13, 2020
A well-written and well-researched book on how theology (especially evangelical Christianity) has hamstrung the response to COVID-19.
May 14, 2022
Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith: How Religion Ruined Our Global Pandemic by Noah Lugeons and Andrew Torrez
“Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith” presents the compelling case that the problems associated with the 2019/2020 pandemic were made considerably worse by religious influence. Host and producer of The Scathing Atheist Noah Lugeons examines how religion made dealing with the COVID-19 significantly worse. This 256-page book includes seven chapters broken out by the following three parts: 1. Precovid, 2. Covid, and Post Covid.
Positives:
1. A well-written, well-reasoned and succinct book.
2. An interesting topic, the negative impact of religion in handling the pandemic.
3. Easy book to follow and fun to read. Lugeons tackle the most interesting aspects of the pandemic and how religion adversely impacted dealing with it. He also does so with clarity.
4. Establishes clearly what the main purpose of the book. “In this book, I will present extensive evidence that the problems associated with the 2019/2020 pandemic were made considerably worse by religious institutions, religious leaders, and religious thinking.”
5. Explains how religion hampers science. “But to “trust selectively” is not really to trust. What these people actually do is use science to bolster their existing opinions when it is convenient, and reject it when it is not.”
6. Provocative statements. “Evolution does not just contradict the bible; it refutes it.”
7. How religious thinking affects the law. “Medical researchers are at the mercy of religious lawmakers beholden to religious voters who have no interest in learning about the thing they’re opposing.”
8. Provides statements worth repeating. “When reality keeps disproving the perspective you’re selling, you either have to find a new perspective or cast doubt on reality. Christianity has opted for the latter.”
9. Trump the dishonest broker. “There is not a person reading this book who couldn’t fake Chrsitianity more convincingly than Donald Trump.”
10. Provides a brief list of the players who formed part of his theocratic administration. “Pence rose to national prominence in March of 2015 when, as the governor of Indiana, he sabotaged that state’s economy with a “religious freedom” bill that would allow individual business owners to opt out of serving LGBTQ people.”
11. Examples of lies with impact spewed by the religious right. “Falwell spent another minute musing about how COVID-19 might be a biological weapon manufactured by North Korea; a speculation sourced to a restaurant owner he talked to the other night, presented on an ostensible news show, and not refuted in any way by the show’s hosts.”
12. How churches cross the wall of separation. “And, for the every-eth time in a row, the federal government stipulated that houses of worship were ineligible for relief money. This has been the case every time federal aid money has ever been granted. But that wasn’t enough to keep Texas churches from crying “persecution” and suing the government.”
13. Fake news! “The “fake news” phenomenon is largely an outgrowth of America’s decreasing trust in expertise.”
14. The anti-vaccine machine and religion. “The condemnation of vaccines and the effort to tie them to the Mark of the Beast from the Book of Revelation is a favored theme among Christian conspiracy theorists, perhaps best exemplified in the person of Rick Wiles.”
15. How policy should take place. “While Americans should enjoy the freedom to believe whatever they choose, policy should be determined entirely by observable fact.”
16. Footnotes provided.
Negatives:
1. No formal bibliography.
2. Not all the footnotes links worked.
3. Lack graphical supplementary material that could have added value to the excellent narrative.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book. Lugeons did a great job of making the case that religion had a significant adverse impact on how the Trump administration and society in general handled the pandemic. Religion through it’s political power and influence hampered science and as a result more deaths and sickness occurred. I highly recommend it!
Further suggestions: “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic” by Bill Gates. “God is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens, “Alpha God” by Hector Garcia, “The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture” by Darrel Ray, “Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible” by Jerry A. Coyne, “God and the Multiverse” by Victor J. Stenger, “Why People Believe Weird Things” by Michael Shermer, “The Soul Fallacy” by Julien Musolino, “Nonbeliever Nation” by David Niose, “Freethinkers” by Susan Jacoby, “Nailed” by David Fitzgerald, and “Think” by Guy P. Harrison.
“Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith” presents the compelling case that the problems associated with the 2019/2020 pandemic were made considerably worse by religious influence. Host and producer of The Scathing Atheist Noah Lugeons examines how religion made dealing with the COVID-19 significantly worse. This 256-page book includes seven chapters broken out by the following three parts: 1. Precovid, 2. Covid, and Post Covid.
Positives:
1. A well-written, well-reasoned and succinct book.
2. An interesting topic, the negative impact of religion in handling the pandemic.
3. Easy book to follow and fun to read. Lugeons tackle the most interesting aspects of the pandemic and how religion adversely impacted dealing with it. He also does so with clarity.
4. Establishes clearly what the main purpose of the book. “In this book, I will present extensive evidence that the problems associated with the 2019/2020 pandemic were made considerably worse by religious institutions, religious leaders, and religious thinking.”
5. Explains how religion hampers science. “But to “trust selectively” is not really to trust. What these people actually do is use science to bolster their existing opinions when it is convenient, and reject it when it is not.”
6. Provocative statements. “Evolution does not just contradict the bible; it refutes it.”
7. How religious thinking affects the law. “Medical researchers are at the mercy of religious lawmakers beholden to religious voters who have no interest in learning about the thing they’re opposing.”
8. Provides statements worth repeating. “When reality keeps disproving the perspective you’re selling, you either have to find a new perspective or cast doubt on reality. Christianity has opted for the latter.”
9. Trump the dishonest broker. “There is not a person reading this book who couldn’t fake Chrsitianity more convincingly than Donald Trump.”
10. Provides a brief list of the players who formed part of his theocratic administration. “Pence rose to national prominence in March of 2015 when, as the governor of Indiana, he sabotaged that state’s economy with a “religious freedom” bill that would allow individual business owners to opt out of serving LGBTQ people.”
11. Examples of lies with impact spewed by the religious right. “Falwell spent another minute musing about how COVID-19 might be a biological weapon manufactured by North Korea; a speculation sourced to a restaurant owner he talked to the other night, presented on an ostensible news show, and not refuted in any way by the show’s hosts.”
12. How churches cross the wall of separation. “And, for the every-eth time in a row, the federal government stipulated that houses of worship were ineligible for relief money. This has been the case every time federal aid money has ever been granted. But that wasn’t enough to keep Texas churches from crying “persecution” and suing the government.”
13. Fake news! “The “fake news” phenomenon is largely an outgrowth of America’s decreasing trust in expertise.”
14. The anti-vaccine machine and religion. “The condemnation of vaccines and the effort to tie them to the Mark of the Beast from the Book of Revelation is a favored theme among Christian conspiracy theorists, perhaps best exemplified in the person of Rick Wiles.”
15. How policy should take place. “While Americans should enjoy the freedom to believe whatever they choose, policy should be determined entirely by observable fact.”
16. Footnotes provided.
Negatives:
1. No formal bibliography.
2. Not all the footnotes links worked.
3. Lack graphical supplementary material that could have added value to the excellent narrative.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book. Lugeons did a great job of making the case that religion had a significant adverse impact on how the Trump administration and society in general handled the pandemic. Religion through it’s political power and influence hampered science and as a result more deaths and sickness occurred. I highly recommend it!
Further suggestions: “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic” by Bill Gates. “God is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens, “Alpha God” by Hector Garcia, “The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture” by Darrel Ray, “Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible” by Jerry A. Coyne, “God and the Multiverse” by Victor J. Stenger, “Why People Believe Weird Things” by Michael Shermer, “The Soul Fallacy” by Julien Musolino, “Nonbeliever Nation” by David Niose, “Freethinkers” by Susan Jacoby, “Nailed” by David Fitzgerald, and “Think” by Guy P. Harrison.
February 16, 2022
This book does more than portray the difficulties religion gives to fighting the covid-19 pandemic in the United States. It provides a view of how religions (mainly the religious right’s version) has fought against science as a guide to society’s problems where it provides a solution. This includes, pertinent to this book, how it handicaps medical care. It starts off with a preface by Andrew Torres, providing a synopsis of the Supreme Court’s ruling when religion has been involved, giving protection against laws meant for everyone, but is provided by the Court religious exemptions. It is divided into three parts: 1) pre-covid relating to the handicapping of science and the rise of fake news, 2) the covid period relating how religion made matters worse for the pandemic, and 3)a post-covid phase relating a quick look to the future.
The following are comments based on my reading notes on specific pieces of text. Number in brackets [] are Kindle page numbers.
[87] “Bigotry against the LGBTQ community is almost exclusively justified on religious grounds.” It is far from exclusive. A vocal group of transgender exclusionary radical feminists attacks the transgender part of the community from a postmodern perspective, somehow equating social constructs with the impossibility of transgender women’s existence, which is what the religious critique does as well. Both sides are wrong. Religious bigots because of their reliance on the myths of the bible, and the exclusionists because it would actually exclude themselves along with every other gender or make every gender legitimate.
[116] “It is not possible to be a Christian without accepting the sacred precept that Christ, the son of God, died for your sins and then arose three days later.” Not all Christians believe in the literal truth in this statement. It is mainly evangelical Christians and a portion of Catholics who so believe. Many Christians today do not believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible. These are certain sections of mainline churches.
[116] “While it is true that science requires the acceptance of certain first principles, this is a prerequisite to any worldview. Science intentionally minimizes those principles and attempts to justify them logically. And even then, science does not adhere to them dogmatically. The scientific principle that says an object cannot be in two places at the same time was set aside as soon as quantum observations brought it into question.” Science is judge by the effectiveness in explaining natural phenomenon. And first principles are not any such judgment, but the procedures that guides scientific research.
[168] “In an interview with The Washington Examiner, researcher Daniel Cox explained: ‘[M]any people reported that the feeling of community that comes with church is irreplaceable in an online setting. Social pressures to go to church, too, is harder to enforce when fellow congregants cannot see who is and who isn’t watching streamed services.’” The social aspects of group meetings are left out in any virtual meeting.
I found this book did a good job explaining the book’s major premise: That religion interferes with the application of scientific research, especially in the field of medicine. It is worst than I thought before reading the book. It mounts towards the ludicrous, if it wasn’t true.
Anyone interested in the dangers we face as a society from the religious right would be encourage to read this one.
The following are comments based on my reading notes on specific pieces of text. Number in brackets [] are Kindle page numbers.
[87] “Bigotry against the LGBTQ community is almost exclusively justified on religious grounds.” It is far from exclusive. A vocal group of transgender exclusionary radical feminists attacks the transgender part of the community from a postmodern perspective, somehow equating social constructs with the impossibility of transgender women’s existence, which is what the religious critique does as well. Both sides are wrong. Religious bigots because of their reliance on the myths of the bible, and the exclusionists because it would actually exclude themselves along with every other gender or make every gender legitimate.
[116] “It is not possible to be a Christian without accepting the sacred precept that Christ, the son of God, died for your sins and then arose three days later.” Not all Christians believe in the literal truth in this statement. It is mainly evangelical Christians and a portion of Catholics who so believe. Many Christians today do not believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible. These are certain sections of mainline churches.
[116] “While it is true that science requires the acceptance of certain first principles, this is a prerequisite to any worldview. Science intentionally minimizes those principles and attempts to justify them logically. And even then, science does not adhere to them dogmatically. The scientific principle that says an object cannot be in two places at the same time was set aside as soon as quantum observations brought it into question.” Science is judge by the effectiveness in explaining natural phenomenon. And first principles are not any such judgment, but the procedures that guides scientific research.
[168] “In an interview with The Washington Examiner, researcher Daniel Cox explained: ‘[M]any people reported that the feeling of community that comes with church is irreplaceable in an online setting. Social pressures to go to church, too, is harder to enforce when fellow congregants cannot see who is and who isn’t watching streamed services.’” The social aspects of group meetings are left out in any virtual meeting.
I found this book did a good job explaining the book’s major premise: That religion interferes with the application of scientific research, especially in the field of medicine. It is worst than I thought before reading the book. It mounts towards the ludicrous, if it wasn’t true.
Anyone interested in the dangers we face as a society from the religious right would be encourage to read this one.
January 1, 2023
"During the best of times, it is wrong for America to carve out legal exemptions for religious belief. While Americans should enjoy the freedom to believe whatever they choose, policy should be determined entirely by observable fact."
February 27, 2024
I've been a fan of The Scathing Atheist, God Awful Movies, etc. for some years now. This book reads exactly like an episode of the former podcast.
It was difficult to give this book a rating. I don't want to penalize it for being written in 2020. I don't want to penalize it for having a very long intro by the controversial (and now distanced from the Puzzle in a Thunderstorm crew) Andrew Torrez. I don't want to penalize it for the first 100 pages that are spent setting up the erosion of the divide between religion and the government.
But, I can't help but feel like this is a book that is very much a 2020 book. It encapsulates the wildness of those early pandemic moments when the right-wing lost their collective mind over social distancing and masking. And indeed, the elevation of Christian preferences over all others is a huge problem in this country - especially because it hurts Christians themselves to determine WHICH of their own beliefs is correct (don't forget, Christianity is denominationally diverse).
Yes, religion played a huge role in disseminating misinformation and fear-mongering early on in the pandemic, perhaps setting the stage for where we are in Year 4. But, as much as Lugeons harps on how the secular people love science so much, I can't help but look to the complete abandonment of public health (science) by even most secular people. Mask-wearing is at an all-time low as I write this, while we are (by all data we have) in one of the largest surges. Over a million Americans have died in four years and more die every single week. And, many of my fellow science-loving people have chosen to ignore science and embrace ableism. Indeed, us science-lovers should feel ashamed that we have bought into the right-wing narratives that "Covid is over" just because a Democrat was elected to office.
Covid is not over and it's not just the fault of religion anymore.
It was difficult to give this book a rating. I don't want to penalize it for being written in 2020. I don't want to penalize it for having a very long intro by the controversial (and now distanced from the Puzzle in a Thunderstorm crew) Andrew Torrez. I don't want to penalize it for the first 100 pages that are spent setting up the erosion of the divide between religion and the government.
But, I can't help but feel like this is a book that is very much a 2020 book. It encapsulates the wildness of those early pandemic moments when the right-wing lost their collective mind over social distancing and masking. And indeed, the elevation of Christian preferences over all others is a huge problem in this country - especially because it hurts Christians themselves to determine WHICH of their own beliefs is correct (don't forget, Christianity is denominationally diverse).
Yes, religion played a huge role in disseminating misinformation and fear-mongering early on in the pandemic, perhaps setting the stage for where we are in Year 4. But, as much as Lugeons harps on how the secular people love science so much, I can't help but look to the complete abandonment of public health (science) by even most secular people. Mask-wearing is at an all-time low as I write this, while we are (by all data we have) in one of the largest surges. Over a million Americans have died in four years and more die every single week. And, many of my fellow science-loving people have chosen to ignore science and embrace ableism. Indeed, us science-lovers should feel ashamed that we have bought into the right-wing narratives that "Covid is over" just because a Democrat was elected to office.
Covid is not over and it's not just the fault of religion anymore.
October 21, 2020
As one of the presenters of ‘The Scathing Atheist’ podcast Noah is one of the best chroniclers of the cancer that is religion, and it’s effects on America (and the world). His Diatribes are things of beauty each week - erudite, witty, and thought provoking; and this book continues in this vein. Podcast listeners will have heard some of this over the course of the pandemic, but seeing it all collected in one place really brings it home how far America has to go to be free of religions pernicious influence.
June 7, 2023
This was alright. The information content was good, I learned a lot about recent events during COVID, but the author was pretty cringey at times in that some passages read like a kid going through a militant edgelord atheist phase in high school.
He just can't resist taking jabs at religion overall in snarky, counterproductive ways about every other paragraph. I don't know who that's supposed to be for. Fellow anti-religion advocates to just nod in appreciation? It's certainly not going to do him any favors if he imagines anyone who doesn't already agree with him reading this.
But if you ignore that it's informative and something I've been following with great interest for a while as America continues taking deeply troubling steps toward becoming a true theocracy.
He just can't resist taking jabs at religion overall in snarky, counterproductive ways about every other paragraph. I don't know who that's supposed to be for. Fellow anti-religion advocates to just nod in appreciation? It's certainly not going to do him any favors if he imagines anyone who doesn't already agree with him reading this.
But if you ignore that it's informative and something I've been following with great interest for a while as America continues taking deeply troubling steps toward becoming a true theocracy.
January 15, 2021
It make me sad and even upset that a virus coming to America be blamed on people or institutions of faith. This book talks about unfair treatment to other groups while giving unfair hateful talk to people of faith. He also makes this book about how the religious community hates the non religious community. When did vivid and buying cakes have a common ground? Vivid did not look at color, sex, religion, or birthplace to.come visit. Everyone HS been touched. Do not put everyone in a one size fits all box. I think someone did you wrong personally and this book is your response to that anger and hurt.
January 18, 2021
a depressing but extremely important dissection of how religion (and one religion in particular; Lugeons focuses almost exclusively on American evangelical Christianity) harmed the United States’s efforts to combat Covid-19 through a combination of science denialism, subversion of rules designed to stop the spread of covid, and scapegoating minorities.
Lugeons is a skilled writer and makes a pretty compelling argument that the United States has put religion (and Christianity in particular) on a societal pedestal for too long and the favoritism and privilege shown to evangelical conservative Christian people and organizations paved the way for a dangerous covid response in the United States. the book is well researched and it’s almost depressing how long the cited sources list is (as in, it’s depressing how many stories and examples there are of Christian churches and groups doing dumb and dangerous shit during a pandemic).
you don’t have to be a atheist (although both Noah Lugeons and myself are) to read this. i think regardless of your personal religious beliefs, you should consider the role that religious institutions played in exacerbating the pandemic.
i will say though, i agree with Lugeons’ final conclusion for the most part. but i think another major reason the pandemic was so bad in the United States was because of our abysmal healthcare system (i support Medicare for All!!) and i think this is an essential part of the problem that should be addressed in any discussion about a pandemic. This doesn’t take away from Lugeons’ writing or argument but i wanted to address it here.
Lugeons is a skilled writer and makes a pretty compelling argument that the United States has put religion (and Christianity in particular) on a societal pedestal for too long and the favoritism and privilege shown to evangelical conservative Christian people and organizations paved the way for a dangerous covid response in the United States. the book is well researched and it’s almost depressing how long the cited sources list is (as in, it’s depressing how many stories and examples there are of Christian churches and groups doing dumb and dangerous shit during a pandemic).
you don’t have to be a atheist (although both Noah Lugeons and myself are) to read this. i think regardless of your personal religious beliefs, you should consider the role that religious institutions played in exacerbating the pandemic.
i will say though, i agree with Lugeons’ final conclusion for the most part. but i think another major reason the pandemic was so bad in the United States was because of our abysmal healthcare system (i support Medicare for All!!) and i think this is an essential part of the problem that should be addressed in any discussion about a pandemic. This doesn’t take away from Lugeons’ writing or argument but i wanted to address it here.
August 28, 2023
The premise is dead on. And by "dead," I mean freaking DEAD. Those selfish morons demanding "religious freedom." If you want to commit suicide with a lethal invisible pandemic, I don't give a crap, but in your selfishness, you don't give a shit about the people you kill. Do those demanding religious freedom (or access to bars, clubs and beaches) allow ME a right to make a decision whether to live or die? NO! Cause they're science denying people who don't believe in it, despite all of the evidence as well as the body count, so they don't give a shit if they kill me because they don't believe they're responsible as the church choirs throughout America would gather to practice and people would hug and kiss greetings, sneeze, sit together -- act as if it's normal -- and IDK whether they heard (beside they're insulated cults so many don't believe in accessing "secular" news -- I grew up in this environment and my family remains committed in this environment so I know what I'm talking about) that many of the first waves of mass infection and dying happened among church choirs. For a scientific reason. And as I did not tell my aged mother, a lot of good their god did then! Religion did "ruin" the pandemic because it made it last in its initial stages much longer than necessary and as a result of their actions or inactions, they have more blood on their hands then they'll ever consider, let alone admit to. I know many who disagree and would not like this review, but it is what it is and the religious people demanding their "freedom" literally are responsible for mass infections and needless deaths even though they'll deny it to the grave. Recommended.
March 15, 2021
I got this book because I am an avid listener to Noah Lugeon’s podcasts. His intelligent arguments, biting sarcasm, and vast knowledge are engaging. I got the book to reflect on the past year of the pandemic, thinking that I would be familiar with much of what was shared in the book. I was so wrong!!! I learned more from the preface of the book (also written by an extremely intelligent and funny podcaster, Andrew Torrez) than I have learned from a book in recent memory. Noah continued this knowledge share throughout the book. Wonderful book - I learned so much, laughed out loud, and really reflected on the confluence of blunders that got America to the place we are today with COVID-19. I look forward to an overall reflection when we are finally done with all of this!! (Please Noah!!!)
July 21, 2022
The author sums up the book well in the description, and it seems to me he succeeded in making his point backed up all the way with footnotes. The author writes like he speaks (eg., on the Scathing Atheist and Skeptikrat podcasts) ie, he is articulate, acerbic, and funny. At the time of this writing, the Supreme Court was heading down a Christian privilege highway - I would love to hear his and Andrew Torres' impressions now that it's gone full tilt (well I can actually on the aforementioned and Opening Arguments podcasts).
October 27, 2020
Spot On
Lugeons deftly cites the theist policies that are, as of this writing, the greatest contributors to Fall, 2020's Third Wave. But it's not hard to see that this doesn't stop at Covid. It will continue until we, as a society, are committed to raising and revering critical thinkers.
Lugeons deftly cites the theist policies that are, as of this writing, the greatest contributors to Fall, 2020's Third Wave. But it's not hard to see that this doesn't stop at Covid. It will continue until we, as a society, are committed to raising and revering critical thinkers.
July 17, 2022
A sobering reality of how religion ruins everything
Even being written well before any "end" of the pandemic, the book accurately anticipates the obstructionist behavior of the zealots. The theme underscores the importance of promoting science and critical thinking while eliminating religious privilege.
Even being written well before any "end" of the pandemic, the book accurately anticipates the obstructionist behavior of the zealots. The theme underscores the importance of promoting science and critical thinking while eliminating religious privilege.
January 8, 2023
Noah Lugeons clearly and convincingly lays the case for how much religiosity is leading us to be a nation denying science and reason.
A warning as you read it: If you’ve been frustrated by all the “persecution” arguments being made over the last few years that are actually favoring evangelical beliefs, you’ll find yourself getting fired up again as you read this book.
A warning as you read it: If you’ve been frustrated by all the “persecution” arguments being made over the last few years that are actually favoring evangelical beliefs, you’ll find yourself getting fired up again as you read this book.
November 16, 2023
Stellar work from Noah. Every notable claim is cited. I wish there was a bibliography in the back, and some of the links don't work anymore, but he did the work. He knew what he was trying to say and he said it, and did so intelligently.
If I didn't already believe that religion is ruining our country, I would be very inclined to that opinion after reading this.
If I didn't already believe that religion is ruining our country, I would be very inclined to that opinion after reading this.
January 10, 2024
How did the COVID pandemic go so wrong?
I worked on the front lines of the COVID outbreak. This book accurately assesses the conditions of the first few months of the pandemic and the conditions that made it so much worse than it had to be. I hope others will take the lessons so carefully explained in this book and do better next time.
I worked on the front lines of the COVID outbreak. This book accurately assesses the conditions of the first few months of the pandemic and the conditions that made it so much worse than it had to be. I hope others will take the lessons so carefully explained in this book and do better next time.
December 8, 2020
Succinct and filled with the alarming facts about the impact of catering to religion, especially christianity, in the United States. Delivered in the usual staccato fashion we have come to expect from mr. Lugeons
June 15, 2021
For those somewhat aware of the immense and insidious power fundamentalist religion has in the U.S., this read will not surprise but rather provide insight into just how dangerous and fatal its influence can be in light of a pandemic event.
January 19, 2022
Excellent
This book is fearless & unapologetic. Those familiar with the author will have a hard time not hearing his voice in their head while reading. The citations are helpful as well.
This book is fearless & unapologetic. Those familiar with the author will have a hard time not hearing his voice in their head while reading. The citations are helpful as well.
July 1, 2024
Yes this took me years to finish. I just got a little bored of the repetition and stopped reading with just 40 pages left. I finally finished those 40 pages. It's a good book but it does become somewhat repetitive.
November 11, 2020
Great look at how religion, specifically Evangelical christianity, exacerbated the Covid-19 pandemic in the US.
January 19, 2021
Not a 1 star book. I don't know why it wont let me change to 5 stars.
Anyway I enjoyed the book and recommend to anyone.
Anyway I enjoyed the book and recommend to anyone.
January 24, 2021
Well done, well researched, and scathing report of the damage that evangelical Christians have encouraged and worked to achieve during the Covid-19 pandemic.
January 25, 2021
Fantastic read. I hope some day Noah can revisit and update it when we are all looking back on these times.
December 15, 2025
Cathartic to read years later.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews