About the author
Robert D. Putnam is an American political scientist whose work has examined institutions, civic participation, trust, religion, inequality, and social capital. He taught at Harvard University and brought comparative political research into public debate.
Bowling Alone documents the decline of many forms of American civic connection. Making Democracy Work, American Grace, and Our Kids address related questions at different scales, from regional institutions to religion and unequal childhoods.
Where to start
Start with Bowling Alone for Putnam's central account of social capital, then read Our Kids for the consequences of unequal opportunity across American communities.
