At our book club on March 25th, we’ll be exploring The Upswing by Robert D. Putnam. This work explains how the United States moved from the individualistic, unequal Gilded Age to a more cooperative and community-minded “We” society in the early twentieth century, only to swing back toward inequality and polarization beginning in the 1960s. Blending data and storytelling, Putnam argues that because Americans have reversed such decline before, we can draw lessons from that earlier era to rebuild a stronger, more unified nation today.
This month’s book club will be led by Nick Neptune, an artist, educator, civic entrepreneur, and community advocate based in Raleigh. Haven’t read the book? No problem! NPR has a great summary; we’d still love for you to contribute to our conversation!
