About this title: Based on a 25-year research project, this book documents a significant downward spike in the ways that Americans gather in social groups--and recommends new ways that people can come together for the common good.
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Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2000
ISBN-13:9780684832838ISBN:0684832836
Description: Good. Clean pages good condition overall loose binding minor shelf wear sharp corners All new inventory received to basement All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. read more
Description: Good. Dust Jacket present. GOOD with average wear to cover and pages. We offer a no-hassle guarantee on all our items. Orders generally ship by the next business day. Default Text. read more
Edition: 1st edition
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 8/7/2001
ISBN-13:9780743203043ISBN:0743203046
Description: Very Good. 0743203046 Ex-library soft cover copy with very few ex-lib markings through out the book. There is light over all wear to the cover. The pages are tight and clean with no markings on the text. Expedited shipping is available. We ship fast and package well. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Touchstone Books, Old Tappan, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780743203043ISBN:0743203046
Description: Good. Paperback-good condition. Minimal wear to edges. Standard used condition. Some pages have some moderate and light highlights. read more
Edition: 1st edition
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 8/7/2001
ISBN-13:9780743203043ISBN:0743203046
Description: Fine. 0743203046 NEW/UNREAD! ! ! Text is Clean and Unmarked! --Be Sure to Compare Seller Feedback and Ratings before Purchasing--Has a small black line on bottom/exterior edge of pages. May have light shelf wear to cover from storage, if any. read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, New York
Date Published: 2000
ISBN-13:9780684832838ISBN:0684832836
Description: Good in Good jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" Tall. Pages with some underlining and notes in pen. Tight binding. Only light wear to cover/dust jacket. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2001-08-07
ISBN-13:9780743203043ISBN:0743203046
Description: Good. Edge and corner wear. Creases to cover. Pages still clean and tight. All U.S. orders shipped with tracking number and E-mail confirmation. read more
"Very dry and "textbook-y" analysis of why people don't participate in "community" organizations as much as they used to, or even why people don't apparently socialize in general as much as they used to. Lots and lots of dry statistics in the early part of the book - definitely had to skim some of that. But interesting food for thought. Spoiler: TV is considered a major culprit. I did find some things a bit of a stretch to believe, such as participating in groups is as good for your health as quitting smoking."
"There are some pretty large problems with this book, not the least of which is Putnam's quickly brushing over anything that can be problematic about community and the dated feeling that his statements about the telephone and internet give the book, but putting this aside, Bowling Alone is a nice treatise on community and its importance in the US. When I first started reading, I thought I would bore quickly of the style, which is a basic pulling and analysis of statistics, but for some reason, I stayed interested. This is clearly a work of deep research, and it's nice to read something so passionately researched that is also a compelling read. I'd recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in creating community or social activism."
"I rather enjoyed this book as a (thorough) explanation of where community has gone in the past few decades and why. Particularly telling for me was the quoting of increased suicide rates and feelings of "malaise" over the past generation or two.
While Putnam makes the point that the '50s were more socially connected (they were), I don't think he romanticizes the decade by any stretch of the imagination. He mentions the increased tolerance for race, sex and sexual orientation today, but bemoans the loss of community.
For myself, I must agree with his thesis on a personal level, as I feel a great deal of social anomie in my own life, and this book confirms that the problem is indeed society-wide.
Of course, at the end he adds the obligatory "there's hope!" section, which I feel is a bit too optimistic. But, it can't all be bad, right?
An update with the effects of September 11th and Web 2.0 on social capital would be interesting to see."
"Bowling alone: the collapse and revival of American community. Robert D. Putnam 2000 One of the most important works of American political science and social history this decade, the author looks at our society and compares it to earlier decades in the 20th century for striking evidence of lessening participation in community through fewer people voting, volunteering, joining clubs or community groups, attending church or school meetings. He studies what happens when the bonds normally formed between people participating in community activities, what he calls "social capital", are lost. In a readable style, the author analyzes current trends and skillfully builds his case for what he thinks are the root causes for the significant changes in American community and what this means for the future. This book continues to have great relevance for our consideration of the impact of social networking websites, instant messaging, blogs and other new forms of communication which were just emerging when the book was written."
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