An eminent political scientist’s brilliant analysis of economic, social, and political trends over the past century demonstrating how we have gone from an individualistic “I” society to a more communitarian “We” society and then back again, and how we can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more unified nation—from the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids.
Deep and accelerating inequality; unprecedented political polarization; vitriolic public discourse; a fraying social fabric; public and private narcissism—Americans today seem to agree on only one thing: This is the worst of times.
But we’ve been here before. During the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, America was highly individualistic, starkly unequal, fiercely polarized, and deeply fragmented, just as it is today. However as the twentieth century opened, America became—slowly, unevenly, but steadily—more egalitarian, more cooperative, more generous; a society on the upswing, more focused on our responsibilities to one another and less focused on our narrower self-interest. Sometime during the 1960s, however, these trends reversed, leaving us in today’s disarray.
In a sweeping overview of more than a century of history, drawing on his inimitable combination of statistical analysis and storytelling, Robert Putnam analyzes a remarkable confluence of trends that brought us from an “I” society to a “We” society and then back again. He draws inspiring lessons for our time from an earlier era, when a dedicated group of reformers righted the ship, putting us on a path to becoming a society once again based on community. Engaging, revelatory, and timely, this is Putnam’s most ambitious work yet, a fitting capstone to a brilliant career.
1 有用 Larene 2025-10-26 14:31:41 广东
大致看完。从economics,politics,society and culture的角度说明美国社会一百年来I-We-I的变化,最后具体讨论race和gender的个别趋势。可以理解为每一章都是一个侧面的美国史。最后总结认为culture的变化先行(当然也承认说不了太多因果);当下的社会现实既然是60年代以来的长期趋势,也怪不了千禧一代和社交媒体。第一次看Putnam,所以完全没想到开篇的大... 大致看完。从economics,politics,society and culture的角度说明美国社会一百年来I-We-I的变化,最后具体讨论race和gender的个别趋势。可以理解为每一章都是一个侧面的美国史。最后总结认为culture的变化先行(当然也承认说不了太多因果);当下的社会现实既然是60年代以来的长期趋势,也怪不了千禧一代和社交媒体。第一次看Putnam,所以完全没想到开篇的大段论述过了之后原来这么定量;而全书主旨是在给这个撕裂的社会寻找解药——果然是能写畅销书的人。 (展开)
0 有用 YOUNG 2022-01-20 08:08:46
科普读物(不是
0 有用 地下宇航员 2020-11-05 11:12:28
7/10.
1 有用 Rofix 2021-05-10 03:24:27
所有过往,皆为序章
0 有用 Hacsumme 2023-10-18 12:53:18 上海
发展到这个阶段了,期望放低,心态放平。很适合做心理建设和未来预期管理的一本书。