The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift in conventional wisdom, with some claiming that public health measures were overly restrictive and did more harm than good. This perspective is now being championed by left-of-center authors in mainstream media.
Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee’s book “In Covid’s Wake” presents a skeptical view of the pandemic response, while David Zweig’s “An Abundance of Caution” offers an alternative narrative. Both books have received positive reviews from publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian.
The idea that public health officials stifled dissent to create the illusion of consensus around flawed policies has gained traction. However, this narrative overlooks the fact that pandemic restrictions aimed to mitigate harm and protect lives.
Critics argue that years of learning in schools, countless business closures, and other negative consequences were unnecessary costs of these measures. If the focus shifts too far towards revisionism, there will be fewer voices to defend sensible public health policies when the next pandemic hits.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/covid-pandemic-revisionism-books/683954