BOWLING ALONE 2

Putnam, Robert D. Feldstein, Lewis M. and Don Cohen (2003) BETTER TOGETHER: Restoring American Community, (New York; Simon & Schuster) 318 pages.

Putnam and his two other authors make the case that community cohesion can be restored. The author in his earlier book BOWLING ALONE maintained that at least some of the community spirit and ethos that bring a community together has been lost since about the 1970’s. The culprits are large population turnovers, shift work at factories, the decline of community centers (like downtowns) the diminishment of neighborhoods, and the draw of cable, internet, video games and related that have kept people at home.

BOWLING ALONE was a metaphor of doing something in one’s community but not being part of the community. It was an excellent best seller. It started from one article and was expanded into a book. One can imagine a lonely soul bowling on Tuesday afternoons because that is there day off.

This book is harder to evaluate. Putnam first is really talking about metropolitan areas that have sprawled and lost their sense of community. Or it applies to high rise metro areas where most folk are off the streets by dark. Small cities and small towns still have the spirit although it too has been a bit diminished.

Putnam ET. Al. suggests that communities can cope and revitalize and suggests a number of examples. This would apply to bringing neighborhoods together through branch libraries, mega churches, political associations, neighborhood organizations and the World Wide Web.

Although thoroughly discussed and comprehensively covered. There is a sinking feeling from this reviewer that the traditional neighborhood magnets and numerous associations may be reinvented, but we have yet to arrive. For younger readers, it may surprise them that at one time, citizen’s may have gotten a “bite to eat” at a Ma&Pa restruant and taken in an early “B” movie at a local neighborhood theatre and WALK home! Trolleys ran every 20 minutes by a residential area along major thoroughfares. In other words, there were people on the street after dark.

That still happens, but the likelihood is much less likely. Today, one may rent a movie and drive through a fast food, all to be consumed alone with only part of the family at home. It is quicker, faster, safer, and at times a bit lonely.

In some neighborhoods, particularly in the summer, folks do take walks in the dark around their neighborhood. However, it is less likely. It is safer to walk on a tread mill and watch television at the same time.

Putnam ET. Al. did an excellent job of describing the problem but the solutions stated are yet to be realized in terms of importance or may not restore the American community once known to older generations.