The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again

The book examines the century-long oscillation of American society, focusing on four key trends: economic inequality, political partisanship, social capital, and cultural narcissism.

Putnam and Garrett draw on historical data to illustrate how America transitioned from a highly individualistic and fragmented society in the late 19th century to a more egalitarian and cooperative society during the Progressive Era, only to revert back to individualism in the latter half of the 20th century.

The authors argue that lessons from the Progressive Era can help America become a more unified and community-focused society once again.