Ascent

A masterful analysis by a leading political scientist of economic, social, and political trends over the past century, showing how we moved from an individualistic “I” society to a more collective “we” society, and then back again, and how we can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more united nation—from the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids. Deep and accelerating inequality; unprecedented political polarization; vitriolic public rhetoric; a fraying social fabric; public and private narcissism—Americans today seem to agree on only one thing: these are the worst of times. But we've been here before. During the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, America was hyper-individualistic, glaringly unequal, deeply polarized, and deeply fragmented, just as it is today. Yet, as the 20th century unfolded, America—slowly, unevenly, but steadily—became more egalitarian, more cooperative, and more generous. A thriving society, more focused on our responsibilities to one another and less on our narrower self-interests. But sometime during the 1960s, these trends reversed, leaving us in the mess we find ourselves in today. In a sweeping overview of more than a century of history, and drawing on his unique blend of statistical analysis and storytelling, Robert Putnam analyzes a remarkable convergence of trends that moved us from an "I" society to a "we" society and back again. He draws inspiring lessons for our time from an earlier era, when a dedicated group of reformers corrected course and set us on a path to becoming a community-based society again. Engaging, revealing, and timely, this is Putnam's most ambitious work to date and a fitting culmination of a remarkable career.