On Risk

The first title in a new series of short nonfiction books modeled after 18th century political pamphlets-compare with Penguin’s Great Idea series, but instead of reprints, these are original essays, 20,000 to 35,000 words, by contemporary writers and thinkers about contemporary issues.

The first titles respond specifically to the pandemic, but the series won’t be limited to it and we plan to continue it beyond the current crisis (assuming the current crisis has a beyond)

On Risk considers our political, social, and economic responses to COVID-19-social distancing, self-isolation, economic shutdown, essential work-from philosophical and ethical standpoints.

Kingwell is the author of Fail Better, one of our bestselling nonfiction titles, professor of philosophy at University of Toronto, contributing editor at Harper’s. His work has appeared in publications ranging from New York Times to the Journal of Philosophy and Auto Racing Digest.