In his first book, award-winning journalist Felix Salmon offers a tour-de-force analysis—drawing from history, economics, sociology, and popular culture—of the world that is emerging from the pandemic crisis. The coronavirus pandemic created a strange new world—Salmon calls it “the New Not Normal”. Transformations wrought by the pandemic—economic, social, political, and more—are all around us, and we need a way to grasp their consequences, many of which are surprisingly positive. The Phoenix Economy explores the aftereffects of the pandemic and its ramifications, helping us to make sense of the most disorienting and devastating event of our lifetimes.