Movie Info
Movie Notes
Directors: Pete Davis and Rebecca Davis
This movie is streaming on Netflix.
“Join or Die” documents the rise to prominence of Robert Putnam’s groundbreaking work Bowling Alone and what has occurred in the decades since.
What Putnam charted was the critical importance of social clubs for society’s success. These include congregations, unions, rotary clubs, lodges and bowling leagues. Over the years, many of these organizations have been in decline—and that’s not good for health and well-being.
In the 1990’s Bowling Alone seemed to be a prophetic message and a call to action for us to return to civic engagement of all sorts. The data and research around civic involvement seems clear as day. The more of it the better society functions. It is better economically. It is better politicly. It is better socially. It even is better for adding years to your own life hence the stark but entirely true title of the documentary that we need to join a club or die.
What has occurred in the years since publication and capturing national attention was not the radical return to clubs but quite the opposite. We have been abandoning these groups at alarming rates. Everywhere you look memberships are down and social involvement is low. I have seen it in my research and first hand experience. One example is my elementary school PTA. Sure, most every parent signs up and pays the small dues at the beginning of the year but the actual participation in the board, the events and the running of activities has declined every year I have been a part.
Ultimately this results in outcomes like that charted in my own book The Future Poor where the less we are together and work together the worse our economic lives become. These matters are always interconnected and we can no longer survive on our own. I highly recommend taking the time to watch and take seriously the message of “Join or Die.” It is informative, fun, shocking and something to incorporate immediately.
If you aren’t a fan of any of the clubs in your area—start one! It may just be the thing that helps you survive.
And—please stay tuned to ReadTheSpirit magazine for news about my new book—coming soon. I’d love to hear what you think about it, when it’s launched in a few weeks.