Which books should you read while self-isolating from coronavirus?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Which books should you read while self-isolating from coronavirus?
Position1 of 6›: The classics
Argument1 of 3›: A Journal of the Plague Year

They say fashion comes in cycles. The fresh relevance of Daniel Defoe's classic requires no explanation.

The argument

People should read A Journal of the Plague Year while self-isolating because it explains the historical context of plagues and pandemics like the one the world is enduring. This novel assures people that there are things much worse than self-isolating and panic buying, like our ancestors' lack of medical expertise during periods of crisis. In this reminder of our more advanced medical knowledge, readers can find a more grateful attitude about their current situation. Daniel Defoe’s account is worth reading because it explores human behaviors during a plague. It shows readers that our generation is not the first to react to infectious disease with severe anxiety. Since it confirms that previous generations also experienced panic, this book offers validation to anxious readers. A Journal of the Plague Year is worth reading because the book's subject matter mirrors aspects of 2020's pandemic. The reader can compare their current situation with historical events, learning about societal behaviors in times of crisis. These responses are strikingly similar to our current reality and include stocking up on provisions, self-isolating in homes, banning public events, and restricting the hours of public spaces. Through reading about these similarities, readers can gain more insight into our society's current situation.

Premises

[P1]Reading about historical plagues provides context that fosters gratitude for modern medical advances and perspective on current hardships. [P2] Defoe's account shows that previous generations reacted to pandemics with the same anxiety and behaviors we see today, validating readers' feelings. [P3] The striking parallels between the novel's events and 2020's pandemic offer insight into how societies respond in times of crisis. [C] Therefore, A Journal of the Plague Year is a classic worth reading while self-isolating from coronavirus.

Counter-arguments

This argument is based on the assumption that people find it comforting to read books that mirror their own circumstances. Other people will find it unnerving to read a book that reflects the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, some people prefer to use fiction and stories as a means of escape and distraction. If people desire to not think about the pandemic, they will not want to read Diary of the Plague Year.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] The counter denies that recognition is reliably consoling, arguing that the argument assumes people find it comforting to read about circumstances resembling their own when many will find a book mirroring the pandemic unnerving instead. [Rejecting P3] The parallels the premise treats as the book's value are for some readers the reason to avoid it: on the counter's account fiction is often wanted as escape and distraction, and a reader who does not want to think about the pandemic will not want this account of one.