SharableThings user jenly has posted a sharing interest about bowling. Jenly is looking for people to bowl with.

The significance of Jenly's sharing interest became more apparent when we came across Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert D. Putnam (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000).

Here are extracts from the book's publicity:

"In a groundbreaking book based on vast new data, Putnam shows how we have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures-- and how we may reconnect. Putnam warns that our stock of social capital - the very fabric of our connections with each other, has plummeted, impoverishing our lives and communities."

"Putnam draws on evidence including nearly 500,000 interviews over the last quarter century to show that we sign fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations that meet, know our neighbors less, meet with friends less frequently, and even socialize with our families less often. We're even bowling alone. More Americans are bowling than ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues. Putnam shows how changes in work, family structure, age, suburban life, television, computers, women's roles and other factors have contributed to this decline."

"The central premise of social capital is that social networks have value. Social capital refers to the collective value of all "social networks" [who people know] and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other. "

"Factoids from Bowling Alone"

"Family dinners and family vacations or even just sitting and talking with your family are down by one third in last 25 years."

"Having friends over to the house is down by 45 percent over last 25 years. "

"Participation in clubs and civic organizations has been cut by more than half over the last 25 years."

"Involvement in community life, such as public meetings is down by 35 percent over the last 25 years."

"Church attendance is down by roughly one third since 1960s."