Bravery

Within the introductory section of The Premonition, the author establishes his interest in exploring the ways in which overcoming societal obstacles requires bravery. “The Missing Americans” is the only section in the text where Lewis plainly states his overarching beliefs about his findings and writings. In the final paragraph of the introduction he says, “I think this particular story is about the curious talents of a society, and how those talents are wasted if not led. It’s also about how gaps open between a society’s reputation and its performance. After a catastrophic season, management always huddles up to figure out what needs to be changed . . . Our players aren’t our problem” (xv). In this passage, Lewis likens the United States government’s approach to the pandemic to the end of a sporting season. Rather than placing the onus on the players, or in the case of...