Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. - Review - book review

Camping Magazine, March, 2001

by Robert D. Putnam

In the 1950s and 1960s, Americans bowled in leagues, joined bridge clubs and civic organizations, and shared picnics with friends and neighbors. Today, due to changing family structures, working parents, and changing values, people are more apt to spend free time alone or with just a few friends. In this book, Putnam theorizes that people today have less access to social capital, "the connections among individuals -- social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them." This creates a disconnect that is a serious threat to society because communities with less social capital have more social problems such as teenage pregnancy, higher suicide rates, and more crime.

Basing his theories on years of research and data collection, Putnam examines today's society and suggests ways to rebuild social capital and re-establish community involvement. (Simon & Schuster, 2000)