In the scorching summer of 1995, Chicago was engulfed by a heat wave so severe it reshaped the city's history, claiming over seven hundred lives in a tragedy more deadly than the infamous Chicago Fire of 1871. In "Heat Wave," Eric Klinenberg delivers a masterful social autopsy of this catastrophe, revealing the deep-seated vulnerabilities and systemic failures that turned a natural disaster into a human disaster of unprecedented scale. Through meticulous research, Klinenberg dissects the complex web of social, political, and economic factors that contributed to the high mortality rate, laying bare the stark realities of urban life that made Chicago so susceptible to devastation. Beyond the immediate horror of the 1995 heat wave, Klinenberg's investigation exposes a broader, more disturbing pattern of societal neglect and isolation that reaches far beyond Chicago. With compelling narrative force, he uncovers how the erosion of community bonds, the marginalization of the poor and elderly, and the retrenchment of public services not only exacerbated the effects of the heat wave but also continue to threaten urban populations across America. "Heat Wave" is not just a chronicle of a dark chapter in Chicago's history; it is a cautionary tale of what happens when a society overlooks the most vulnerable among us, serving as an urgent call to action to mend the social fabric before the next disaster strikes.