August Book Club: Robert Putnam's "Bowling Alone"

A book club defined by who finishes it, not who starts it.

This post originally appeared as this Tweet.

I'm doing an August book club. The book is Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone (*revised 2020 edition*). Here is the reason for the book club, and how to participate:

Motivation: It's one of those books many people talk about, but *ahem* many of whom could do with actually reading. Although I'm happy to answer questions and discuss the book and this book club casually, the book club is not defined by who starts it. It is defined by who finishes it.

How to participate: buy the book, read the book. To complete your participation, you must publish your book notes online before the last day of August 2024. I will then publish a roundup piece with links to all the good book notes as a Labor Day treat. "Good book notes" will be my editorial choice, but I want to include as many as possible. Just don't phone it in.

What if I need help to complete this? Or need extra motivation? This is not that kind of book club. Do it, or don't it.

What are good book notes? There's no one form. The questions you should ask are "good for whom? and for which purpose?" Some book notes will be research notes (like this). Some will be favorite quote compilations. Some will be exegesis. Some will be very long threads on Twitter. Do whatever is useful to you. Ask yourself why you're reading this book, and that will help guide your notes. Regardless: cite page numbers and book editions (hardback vs Kindle, for example) so people can recreate your though processes.

FAQ: Ask questions in the comments. You have until August 31. Cool things will come after that.