Join or Die with Robert Putnam

In 'Bowling Alone', Robert D. Putnam presents extensive data showing how Americans have become disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures. He argues that this decline in social capital has significant negative impacts on physical and civic health. The book explores various factors contributing to this decline, including changes in work, family structure, suburbanization, and the influence of technology such as television and the internet. Putnam also discusses historical precedents and potential solutions for reviving civic engagement and social connections.

In 'Our Kids', Robert Putnam examines the diminishing prospects for children in America, contrasting the successful lives of his high school class of 1959 in Port Clinton, Ohio, with the harder lives faced by their children and grandchildren. The book blends individual testimonies with extensive social-science research to highlight the growing class-based opportunity gap among young people, affecting rich, middle-class, and poor kids across the country. Putnam's work provides a disturbing yet thoughtful and persuasive account of the American dream in crisis, emphasizing the need for a deep examination of the future of American society.

In 'The Upswing', Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett provide a comprehensive overview of more than a century of American history. They identify a significant shift from an 'I' society to a 'We' society during the early 20th century, particularly peaking in the 1960s, and then a reversal back to individualism. The book uses statistical analysis and storytelling to illustrate this 'I-We-I' curve, showing how trends in politics, economics, society, and culture have repeated over time. The authors argue that understanding this historical pattern can inspire a new generation to work towards rebuilding a more communitarian society.

This book by R. Blake Wilson presents a collection of quotes from early American history to present-day speakers, politicians, and leaders. It includes texts such as the Oaths of Office, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence, highlighting phrases that conform to the author's message of American unity and values based on the United States Constitution.