Pandemic Aftermath: How Coronavirus Changes Global Society

By: Trond Undheim
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: June 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64826-190-9
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Date: May 26, 2020

Pandemic Aftermath: How Coronavirus Changes Global Society is Trond Undheim’s latest book; filled with chapter upon chapter of information for his audience to digest and consider.

The book opens with a lengthy Introduction of information ranging from ‘The consequences of the Black Death’ to ‘Scenarios for the next decade.’ Beyond the Introduction, there is a ‘takeaway and exercise’ at the end of each chapter for the reader to opt to either interact (or not). In Chapter I, Undheim takes his first dive into the minutia of the Covid 19 pandemic by setting the timeline. He begins at the origins of the crisis and ‘…the early days’ and addresses what is commonly acknowledged as ‘ground zero’ (Wuhan Province, China). From this point, he rolls along to the surge of the outbreak in Italy and the steamroll effect from there with its roll from Europe across the Atlantic to the United States. Moving along from the pandemic’s origins and original footprint, Undheim segues into who and what constitutes a ‘superspreader’ of the virus. Mind you, we are only in the infancy of this read at the end of Chapter 2.

Mr. Undheim redirects his audience to the foresights, failures by futurists, government, media and innovation; placing the reader at the headwaters with the ‘how to’ approach of mapping this pandemic beast along with a simulation of the next decade and beyond. Chapter 4 offers up the first scenario of what to do: ‘Scenario I: The borderless world…’ only to be followed in Chapters 5 and 6 with Scenario’s II and III respectively: Nation-state renewal or Two worlds apart’. After digesting the plethora of the former chapters, Undheim continues forward with a concerted and deeper dive that is rife with yet another bounty of information and eventually we are at a wrap-up and book’s end.

I am not familiar with Trond Undheim’s work but must say I was quite taken with the level of depth he went into in this body of work. The bevy of information and (at times) opinion goes beyond the pale in detail. There are times when I sensed a nuance from the author that spotlighted his opinion toward how the pandemic has been addressed, mitigated (and perhaps, mishandled) by world leaders from abroad as well as the United States. I applaud him in a sense that he has stayed true to his beliefs and while I’m sure he could have peppered his work with opinion, he tempered his pen admirably. This is not a read for the faint of heart as there are times when it can be downright disturbing. Again, I commend Undheim because, after all, isn’t this one of the basic elements of solid writing: enlist the emotions of your audience and engage them? In my humble opinion, Undheim accomplished his endeavors on both fronts.

Quill says: Pandemic Aftermath: How Coronavirus Changes Global Society, is a read that provides a bounty of information and certainly a large dose of ‘food for thought.’

For more information on Pandemic Aftermath: How Coronavirus Changes Global Society, please visit the author's website at: trondundheim.com/pandemic-aftermath

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