Book & podcast collection

The Big Fail

byBethany McLeanandJoe Nocera

Bethany McLean and Joe Nocera examine the United States' response to COVID-19 and ask why institutions repeatedly failed under pressure. Their reporting covers public-health agencies, pharmaceutical development, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, businesses, and political leaders, highlighting both remarkable achievements and preventable breakdowns. The authors focus on incentives, bureaucracy, inequality, and decades of policy choices that left essential systems brittle before the emergency began. The book treats the pandemic not as one isolated disaster but as a revealing stress test of American government, commerce, expertise, and civic trust.

Publisher

Portfolio

Publication date

2023-10-17

Format

Print edition

Pages

448

ISBN

9780593331026