Review: Bowling alone

A longer and much improved version of Putnam's controversial 1995 Journal of Democracy article of the same name, this is an important work that is likely to be the center of much debate. Books of sociological insight as readable and significant as David Reisman's Lonely Crowd and C. Wright Mills's Power Elite come along seldom. Putnam's work belongs in their company. This is partly because Putnam (Making Democracy Work, not reviewed) avoids the language of academic sociology and writes prose that most readers will find appealing. But, more importantly, Putnam's ideas have a weight and carry implications that will resonate with scholars and laymen alike. Putnam is concerned with "social capital" (i.e., the institutions, practices, behavior, and attitudes that create and sustain human communities). The evidence that he has amassed—from surveys of bowling leagues and book groups to data on religious and civic participation—shows without doubt that American social capital has recently fallen far, and that the bonds connecting Americans to one another have eroded sharply in the last half-century. For all the book's likely impact, however, Putnam is stronger at discovering reality than explaining it. He doesn't tell us why he and other social thinkers believe that being connected is better than going it alone. He also fails to explore the possibility that the causes of social disconnectedness lie as much in changing personal cultural attitudes (the subject of social psychology) as in external practices and institutions (the stuff of sociology). And Putnam's inspiring and brave call for renewed civic inventiveness, while appealing, can be no substitute for solid ideas as to what social policies should be enacted and what individuals might do to recreate social capital. Nevertheless, all those who were previously skeptical of Putnam's claims will now have to confront the overwhelming force of this exhaustive and carefully argued study. A major work of social research.

I don't know who the author is quoting when noting what the AARP says about it's grassroot activities. Whoever it is, does not accurately depict what goes on in Our Chapters. I am President of the Willowbrook Chapter 3862 on Staten Island,N.Y. I also serve as a Chapter Developer. of Staten Island. All 14 of the chapters here closely follow political issues, conduct our own monthly charitable activities in addition to those conducted by AARP State and National Organizations. We donate food regularly to the needy,send personal articles to soldiers overseas through Project Homefront, serve on every charitable and community service group in our area, donate money every year to a myriad of charities, etc. etc. We run a monthly social and hold meetings, in some chapters, with attendance in excess of 200 members. We have monthly guest speakers on topics such as health, education, as well as all topics related to all senior citizens. We hold monthly socials in which up to 100 people are involved in card games, board games, line- dancing lessons and quilting lessons. I would like the author to consider this and then tell us what our "social capital" value truly is today?
Tony Dellatte .Staten Island NY 

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

Drawing on vast new data that reveal Americans' changing behavior, Putnam shows how we have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures--whether they be PTA, church, or ... Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

The first 200 pages were slow and somewhat dull. The last 200 pages pulled it all together and talked about next steps. I like the new perspective I have on some things, especially social capital. Slow read, but good. Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

I guess if I'm going to give any book one star, it should be this one. It took me three years to motivate myself to read it. Maybe three months to finish it. And it's not that the author's horrible; I ... Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

This book was amazing and the breadth of information is astounding, from graphs and statistics of the number of people taking Sunday picnics to the number of people who vote.... The writing was ... Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

Didn't finish. Over my head. Too many statistics. Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

A long slog, but worth it. Putnman's book is packed with data that chronicles the decline community in the United States. He makes clear that religious and secular organizations have suffered similar ... Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

Legit topic, though it suffices to read the last paragraph of every chapter to gather an understanding of Putnam's theses. Read full review

Review: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

Social capital is an important topic for anyone interested in building better groups of people, from families to nations. Putnam's masterpiece explains the topic thoroughly, supported by data and ... Read full review