How Did We Get Here?

In the classic Sociology book ‘Bowling Alone’, Robert Putnam makes the compelling argument that social capital (reciprocal connections among people) has been in a steady decline ever since its peak in 1964.

By the year 2000, the average American was 58 percent less likely to attend a club meeting than an individual only 25 years earlier. This may not seem like much of a big deal until you realise that regularly participating in a social group halves your risk of dying in the next 12 months.

It’s not just the joining of groups that has changed either. We are 45% less likely to invite friends around to our place, and 33% less likely to have a dinner around the table with the whole family. We are also 40% less likely to join a bowling league, which is surprisingly the number one participation sport in the…