Palaces for the People

How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life

Recommended by Diane Coyle, and 1 others. See all reviews

Ranked #39 in Urban Planning, Ranked #45 in Cities

An eminent sociologist and bestselling author offers an inspiring blueprint for rebuilding our fractured society.

We are living in a time of deep divisions. Americans are sorting themselves along racial, religious, and cultural lines, leading to a level of polarization that the country hasn't seen since the Civil War. Pundits and politicians are calling for us to come together, to find common purpose. But how, exactly, can this be done?

In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg suggests a way forward. He believes that the future of democratic...
more

Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of Palaces for the People from the world's leading experts.

Diane Coyle This is about what social scientists call ‘social capital’, so the social assets or strengths that any community has to draw on in delivering economic improvements or quality of life etc. It’s about libraries in particular, but also other social infrastructure that enables people to meet and understand each other and have safe and inviting ways to help each other. He talks about how these are being eroded through things like library closures or parks not being maintained, or just the design of public spaces in modern cities. (Source)


Similar Books

If you like Palaces for the People, check out these similar top-rated books:


Learn: What makes Shortform summaries the best in the world?