Abstract of "Better Together: Restoring the American Community" by Robert Putnam and Lewis Feldstein

Vendor Abstract

This book lays out various examples of how civic renewal is taking place in the United States. Through their case studies, the authors emphasize the importance of community and aim to demonstrate "what groups of varying size have accomplished by cultivating networks of mutual assistance. Examples range from a neighborhood subdivision in Boston to an entire Mississippi county as well as the "virtual community" of Craigslist, an online bulletin board that has become the prime "go-to" source for job and apartment listings in San Francisco and elsewhere. The authors stress the importance of participatory involvement, championing networks that create opportunities for people to find their own public voice rather than relying on organizers to speak for them."