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The book review discusses "Celebrity in the Time of Covid: Fandom and the Influence of Pandemic Messaging" by Christina S. Beck. The book explores how celebrities from various fields became involved in understanding and combating the Covid pandemic. It focuses on the US but acknowledges the need for comparative analyses in different national contexts. The book examines the role of fandom in relation to celebrity health narratives during the pandemic and analyzes the polarizing effect of Covid on celebrities and their fans. The review highlights the book's valuable analyses of how celebrities engaged with fandom and the temporary flourishing of fandom for "medical heroes" during the pandemic. [Extracted from the article]

"Covid and ... How to Do Rhetoric in a Pandemic" is an edited collection that explores the role of rhetoric during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book examines various themes and moments that have emerged during the pandemic, such as health equity, social justice, chronic illness, and the concept of "essentiality." The editors present heuristics to guide readers in understanding how rhetoric functions during a pandemic, emphasizing the importance of considering the rhetorical ecologies of health and the social and structural determinants of health. The book is organized into three sections that examine preexisting and chronic conditions, the paradoxical categorization of individuals as "essential" yet "disposable," and the potential for remedy and resistance. The collection features interdisciplinary perspectives and is grounded in values of social justice and intersectionality. It serves as a time capsule of the pandemic, capturing select snapshots of the discursive forces surrounding COVID-19 and highlighting the impact of discourse on our culture. [Extracted from the article]

The present study explores the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduates, mental health distress, and changes in self-estimated grades during the start of the pandemic. A national sample of undergraduate students (N = 197) participated in an online survey during spring 2020. Undergraduate students were recruited for a survey during the initial lockdown in April-May 2020. Higher depressive symptoms, general anxiety, and academic distress were associated with significantly lower self-estimated grades. Perceived grade declines were also correlated with higher financial concerns and risk for COVID-19 complications or infection. These results suggest that COVID-19 and the resulting modifications to education impacted undergraduate achievement and mental health. It is imperative for colleges and universities to provide additional support for students and their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Pandemic Divide: How Covid Increased Inequality in America" is a book that examines the racial inequalities in America and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racialized minorities. The authors argue that institutional and structural racism created conditions that made certain groups more vulnerable to disease and medical neglect. The book provides data on COVID-19 statistics disaggregated by race, highlighting the higher death rates among Black people. It also explores the impact of the pandemic on mental health, education, and vaccine hesitancy within racialized communities. The authors emphasize the role of structural racism in perpetuating health disparities and call for a better understanding of these issues. [Extracted from the article]

Neven Andjelic's book "Covid-19, State-Power and Society in Europe. Focus on Western Balkans" examines the impact of the pandemic on democratic standards in Western democracies, particularly focusing on the rise of illiberal practices. Through a comparative analysis, Andjelic highlights how emergency measures during the pandemic led to increased state coercion and weakened democratic principles across various countries. The book also delves into the specific challenges faced by the Western Balkans, characterized by populist democracies and pre-existing socio-political trends detrimental to democratic transformation. Andjelic's research sheds light on the need for a deeper understanding of global democratisation challenges and the potential consequences of using state power for non-democratic political agendas during public health crises. [Extracted from the article]

"Central Asia and the Covid-19 Pandemic" edited by Jean-François Caron & Hélène Thibault delves into the effects of the pandemic in Central Asia. The book explores the high death rates in the region, sociological reasons for non-compliance with health measures in Kazakhstan, the impact of misinformation, anti-Chinese sentiment, and the economic and political consequences of the pandemic. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the pandemic's impact on Central Asia, offering insights into cultural norms, social media's role, and the geopolitical implications for the region." [Extracted from the article]

"Reading Habits in the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Applied Linguistic Perspective" is a book review that discusses the impact of the pandemic on readers' habits and literary practices. The book presents a corpus-driven stylistic analysis of readers' relationships to literary genres, time, coping strategies, re-reading, and social reading during the first lockdown. The findings reveal that readers gravitated towards formulaic genres for escapism and comfort, perceived reading as a therapeutic activity, returned to familiar books for enjoyment and emotional resonance, and used video-call software and social media platforms to maintain social literary practices. The book's interdisciplinary approach combines corpus linguistics, stylistics, thematic coding, and literary methodologies to provide a comprehensive analysis of reading habits during the pandemic. [Extracted from the article]

Jayati Ghosh, The Making of a Catastrophe: The Disastrous Economic Fallout of the Covid-19 Pandemic in India. Aleph Book Company, 2022, 271 pages, ₹799 (Hardbound). ISBN 978-93-90652-96-9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Impact of COVID-19 on Early Childhood Education and Care: International Perspectives, Challenges, and Responses" edited by Jyotsna Pattnaik and Mary Renck Jalongo, published in 2022, explores the effects of the pandemic on children, families, and educators globally. The book emphasizes the need for teacher education programs to adapt to changing classroom dynamics and equip educators with crisis management skills. It also highlights the importance of supporting educators' mental health and well-being, engaging families in children's education, and utilizing appropriate resources for active learning, especially in online settings. The volume provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by early childhood educators during the pandemic and offers evidence-based recommendations for adapting to uncertain and challenging times, catering to a diverse audience interested in the well-being and education of young children worldwide. [Extracted from the article]

The book "COVID-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Perspectives" edited by John C. Pollock and Douglas A. Vakoch explores how media organizations around the world covered the COVID-19 pandemic. The book includes 20 chapters that address various challenges faced by the media, such as government interference, disinformation campaigns, and resource inequalities. It also examines the role of culture, national context, media systems, and risk perceptions in shaping media representations of the pandemic. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding how different factors influenced communication practices during the pandemic to better address future outbreaks. [Extracted from the article]

"Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Asian Perspective" is a book that examines the spread of COVID-19 misinformation in Asian cities and its negative consequences. The authors use multiple methods and data sets to provide a comprehensive understanding of the emergence, diffusion, and impacts of misinformation. The book also offers practical guidance for policymakers and emphasizes the importance of civic participation, media literacy education, and infrastructure improvements in combating misinformation. The findings have implications for handling misinformation in future public health crises and are relevant to researchers, students, media practitioners, and policymakers. [Extracted from the article]