The new book edited by two of our Scientific Council members, Mary Kaldor and Saskia Sassen, was written just before the crisis and is called “Cities at War” (Columbia University Press, 2020). It came out just a few days ago and may well shed light on the actual COVID-19 crisis and its impact on cities. Through a series of case studies of cities including Baghdad, Bogotá, Ciudad Juarez, Kabul, and Karachi, the book reveals the unequal distribution of insecurity as well as how urban capabilities might offer resistance and hope. A good reading tip in time of lockdown.