Every once in a while a social trend book pokes its sales head above the others and becomes a topic of popular discussion. One of these books was called Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert Putnam. Published in 2001 at the beginning of the new century, it offered a time for reflection for one of America’s greatest social scientists, Robert Putnam. The author was the Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and former Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Nationally honored as a leading humanist and a renowned scientist, he had written fourteen books and has consulted for the last four US Presidents. In 2012, President Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities. His research program, the Saguaro Seminar, is dedicated to fostering civic engagement in America.
In a nutshell, the major finding of Puttnam’s Bowling Alone was a significant social change in America from doing things in groups to becoming increasingly isolated from each other. As Putnam notes, we once bowled in leagues, usually after work – but no longer. This seemingly small phenomenon symbolizes a huge significant social change that Robert Putnam discusses in Bowling Alone.
The book drew on new data that revealed Americans’ changing behavior. In effect, Putnam shows how Americans have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures – whether they be PTA, church, or political parties – have disintegrated. I read the book when it was published shaking my head at what it expressed. It wasn’t something new for me but rather something that confirmed what I felt but had not expressed. Putnam expressed what I felt about this new social context of America I felt. It was an environment, a medium, and thus invisible to us.
It was a point that Marshall McLuhan brought to my attention in Understanding Media. Putnam seemed to capture the grand context of the times we live in, the grand trend towards moving closer to others or farther away from them. Could there be a more important trend to monitor? In effect, the invisible media or environment surrounding all of us. But like water to a fish, invisible to all of us.
Until the publication of Bowling Alone, few had so deftly diagnosed the harm that broken bonds have wreaked on our physical, civic and spiritual health. Nor had anyone thought of a fundamental power which united people in creating a society that is happy, healthy, and safe.
* * *
Since Bowling Alone, though, many have stepped into the public arena to offer diagnosis and solutions to the problems of our current culture. Much of the criticism focuses on the time young people spend on the Internet and their lack of face to face interactions. This applies to culture as a whole to a large extnt. Many have written about this. But you can save time and read one of the most brilliant articles about the observation of the “Death of Partying” as a brilliant piece of social and cultural reporting.
The author of the piece is Derek Thompson and it can be read at “The Death of Partying in the USA and Why It Matters.” One of the best pieces on modern social observation and reporting I’ve read. With amazing charts and statistics included.
In effect, “The Death of Partying” is a worthy 2025 reincarnation of Putnam’s brilliant 2001 Bowling Alone. This great trend towards aloneness rather than becoming part of a culture/society. An extreme result of the symbolism of freedom? Away from our culture of equality?
