Bench Ansfield, assistant professor of history, has just released their new book, Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City. The book explores the wave of urban arson that took place during the 1970s, wreaking havoc on poor communities while landlords and building owners profited from large insurance payouts.

Born in Flames has been receiving a lot of positive attention since its release earlier this week. Fellow historian Daniel Immerwahr wrote a lengthy review of the book for The New Yorker, which you can read here. Ansfield will also talk about the book on October 27 at CHAT.