Hear from Robert Snyder, the author of When the City Stopped, in which he tells the story of COVID-19 in the words of ordinary New Yorkers, illuminating the fear and uncertainty of life in the early weeks and months, as well as the solidarity that sustained the city. New Yorkers were "alone together," separated by the protective measures of social distancing and the fundamental inequalities of life and work in New York City. Through their personal accounts, we see that while many worked from home, others knowingly exposed themselves to the dangers of the pandemic as they drove buses, ran subways, answered 911 calls, tended to the sick, and made and delivered meals.

Robert Snyder, professor emeritus of American Studies and Journalism at Rutgers University, has devoted his career to sharing history with a broad public to better understand the past and present. He has written six books on New York City. The latest is When the City Stopped: Stories from New York’s Essential Workers, published by Cornell University Press, which was awarded the LaGuardia Book Prize. Robert was a Fulbright lecturer in American Studies in South Korea, and from 2019 to 2025 he was Manhattan Borough Historian.

This is a free event with a $5 suggested donation.