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Bowling Alone
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community | Robert D. Putnam
Shows how changes in work, family structure, women's roles, and other factors have caused people to become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures--and how they may reconnect.
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WarandWar
Pickpick

One of the great political/social science texts of our generation. It's thesis remarkable for it's simplicity, but the evidence stacked up suggests that Putnam is onto something important, and fixable. Little repetitive is spots however and he offers less in the way of fixes than he could.

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TuesdayReviews
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mlzbthc

“As the 20th century ends, Americans have learned that no story is all heroes. Indeed, we some times feel that heroes don‘t really exist.”

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TuesdayReviews

‪“As a rough rule of thumb, our evidence shows [that] nearly half of all associational memberships are church-related, half of all personal philanthropy is religious in character, and half of all volunteering occurs in a religious context.”‬

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UnabridgedTomes
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The Bebe had a really bad day at school this week, so we decided to save the day by taking him bowling for the first time. It was a hit, to put it mildly.

Christine Aww, that pose! ❤️ 6y
11 likes1 comment
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everlocalwest
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Pickpick

I'm a natural introvert, highly sensitive and shy person but I also crave community; it can be a difficult balance. The hubs and I read this partly because he is becoming more involved in local government and we are seeing sides of our small town previously unknown to us. We want to be more engaged and more engaging! This was a fascinating look at social capital and the thinning connectivity of our age, but it is the start of a conversation.

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GoneFishing

We all know that the way to get something done is to give it to a busy person.

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MrBook
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Pickpick

As a member of several community organizations, the question seems to be universally asked: "Why are membership numbers going down? Back in the day..." This *extremely* eye-opening book chronicles the rise & fall of organizations--libraries, book clubs, sports leagues, women's tea groups, fraternal bodies, youth groups, churches, summer camps, etc.--& the sociologist provides answers. An incredible read! #PairWith: Pabst Blue Ribbon, can, cold.

Readingrobin Have not read it but it's in my husband's shelf. He bowls. Sometimes he's alone! 8y
MrBook @Readingrobin Seee! No one should have to bowl alone. This is a very inisghtful book 😊. Lots of charts and such. 8y
Broke_Girl_Reads I majored in nonprofit studies in college and I swear we talked about this book in every class! I would love to see someone revisit his work and look at the way online communities have developed since he published this book 8y
See All 13 Comments
Broke_Girl_Reads Also your drink pairing is spot on 👌 8y
LauraBeth I think that if you're able-bodied, you owe it to yourself to be involved in your community. This looks like different things to different people and that's okay - so whether it's cuddling kittens at the shelter, pounding nails for Habit for Humanity, coaching the kids in the rec league, making the effort to really know your neighbors, mentoring at-risk kids, or starting a book club - to serve is a gift (mainly a gift for yourself) 😀 8y
ErinC I have my students read Chapter 1 of this to go with our "Societal Expectations & Individualism" unit. We read Our Town and a ton of short stories, poems, and non fiction in it. They hate it at first, but love it when we discuss the ideas and the light bulbs start going off! 8y
MrBook @Broke_Girl_Reads 😁👍🏻! There has been a more recent edition that came out, but I don't know how long ago that was. It's a very popular university read, but I read this one on my own, go figure 🤓. @LauraBeth Right on, right on! A lot of what I learned growing up was through the many activities my parents had me participate in 😊👍🏻👌🏻. @ErinC It's amazing what can happen with a little perspective 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻🙌🏻! 8y
itsbrb Thanks for sharing this one. Interesting concept that I try to talk to my parents about constantly. They don't see the need and spend most time watching TV 😔 I really wish more people understood the importance of getting out there. They are proud of all the work that I've done (currently in military, worked with Habitat, in four book clubs, etc.) but would never consider doing it themselves. Makes me sad. 8y
MrBook @itsbrb *sighs* To each their own, I guess, right 😕? Thank you for your service, it is most greatly appreciated! I always stop to thank a serviceperson when I see them while out & about ☺️. And that makes me feel so great that you belong to 4, as I belong to 7 or 8 right now, lol. Habitat is such a great cause! I volunteered with them on a project, and it was quite fulfilling 😊👍🏻. 8y
Autumn I think about this issue a lot! I love to be involved (busy) & I have found as the years go by there is less & less involvement & it gets harder & harder to find people to help on neighborhood & PTA committees. 8y
MrBook @Autumn It's mind-blogging to folks like you and me. More complaining about the state of the world than ever before, and less active community participation than ever before. Hello? I'm not a big believer in coincidence 😜. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute This seems like a title that needs to be revisited and the necessary actions taken. 7y
MrBook @Donna_sBookMinute Agreed ☺️👍🏻! 7y
125 likes27 stack adds13 comments
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Yossarian
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Her: "Can I borrow this chair, or do you need it?"

Me: "No, I don't need it. But taking it destroys the illusion that I'm waiting to meet someone."

Her: *laughs nervously, and slowly backs away with the chair*

pilardib 👏 8y
callunakeep 😂 8y
Robothugs No bowing down emoticon. Epic response. 8y
See All 19 Comments
Laura317 😂😂👍🏼 8y
Cupofjo 😂😂 8y
Shvonne Can I use that response? 8y
LauraBeth 😂😂😂😂 8y
Yossarian @Shvonne I don't think quips can by copyrighted. 8y
Amandajoy Awesome. 8y
Bibliogirl 😆 8y
Readingismyescape Love this!! 8y
kspenmoll 😊 8y
Zelma That is fantastic. And I would have immediately over anyone who said that to me! 8y
Vinjii 👍👍😂 8y
Loreen 😂👏🏻🙌🏼 8y
PurpleyPumpkin Hilarious, great response!😂 8y
jfikkidizzle Your response is great!!! 8y
Jennifer3 Awesome response!!! 8y
Procrastireader Sometimes you just gotta tell someone what time it is😆 8y
163 likes1 stack add19 comments
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catieohjoy
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For today's #augustofpages challenge, I pulled from my nonfiction shelves to find books related to sports. Neither one of these is exactly *about* sports—but both do have athletes on their covers! So. 🏆📚 #augustphotochallenge

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FontinaBlue
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Airplane supplies: 1 part interesting social history, 1 part heavier statistics than I'd hope for & 1 part heart wrenching commentary on the American social landscape, just when I get bored this book finds a way to get profound again.