Eric Klinenberg is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute of Public Knowledge at New York University. His pioneering research into the power of social infrastructure led to his appointment in 2013 as Research Director for President Obama's $1 billion programme to rebuild the region affected by Superstorm Sandy. He is the multi-award winning author of several books including, as co-author, the recent number one bestseller Modern Romance.
This wonderful book shows us how democracies thrive -- Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt, authors of How Democracies Die Fantastic ... both idealistic and, in its myriad examples, pragmatic, and delightfully readable -- Rebecca Solnit, author of Men Explain Things to Me This book is full of hope, which is all the more striking because Klinenberg is a realist. He is a major social thinker, and this is a beautifully written, major book -- Richard Sennett, author of The Craftsman An important book for our difficult age. In very unequal societies, where the social fabric has been torn apart, it is vitally important to bring people together. Eric Klinenberg shows us how this can be done -- Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level and The Inner Level An essential book, about some of the most important aspects of modern living -- Renzo Piano, architect of the Pompidou Centre and the Shard