I guess the answer very few authors are not willing to put forward would be too simple and straightforward. I always think about the little things that make for a society in which people are connected and bond with each other. I heard from a commentary on Tolstoy that he advocated for a village life, type of farm life in which the individual would really coexist with their parents, then siblings, uncles, aunts ect. And then if they managed that extremely well then perhaps they could concern themselves with a neighbor or too. The problem of modern society seems to be that we worry beyond our own family and village because we've learned it's not pleasant enough. We take on more socially than we can manage.
The best reads are those which inspire heroism & imagination OR puncture the progressive platitudes which bind our civilization. Most of our education system is now deducted to reinforcing them. It’s a tug-of-war: skeptical and independent-minded readers and writers and teachers… versus the idea laundering bureaucracy.
Hey Joe. Good post. I'm interested in book number 9. Does Putnam offer a solution or is American society destined to become even more lonely?
Unfortunately the solutions are very “return to the good old days days.”
The book is out of touch regarding young generations today; but Putnam explains the problem well. He just doesn’t provide much of a roadmap out of it
I guess the answer very few authors are not willing to put forward would be too simple and straightforward. I always think about the little things that make for a society in which people are connected and bond with each other. I heard from a commentary on Tolstoy that he advocated for a village life, type of farm life in which the individual would really coexist with their parents, then siblings, uncles, aunts ect. And then if they managed that extremely well then perhaps they could concern themselves with a neighbor or too. The problem of modern society seems to be that we worry beyond our own family and village because we've learned it's not pleasant enough. We take on more socially than we can manage.
I've been saying for years, if there was one book that I could make mandatory reading for all American citizens, it would be Basic Economics.
Great list - added a couple to my TBR pool!
The best reads are those which inspire heroism & imagination OR puncture the progressive platitudes which bind our civilization. Most of our education system is now deducted to reinforcing them. It’s a tug-of-war: skeptical and independent-minded readers and writers and teachers… versus the idea laundering bureaucracy.
https://jmpolemic.substack.com/p/documented-facts