Our national myths often exaggerate the role of the individual heroes and understate the importance of collective effort.

Social capital may turn out to be a prerequisite for, rather than a consequence of, effective computer-mediated communication.

None of the people watching 'Big Brother' will bring you chicken soup if you get sick.

Unequal Democracy is the sort of book to which every political scientist should aspire--it is methodologically rigorous, conceptually serious, and above all, it addresses urgent concerns of our fellow citizens. As Bartels shows, much of what we think we know about the politics of economic inequality is dead wrong. Bartels's perplexing and often unexpected discoveries should help refocus the gathering public debate about inequality and what to do about it.

Look, we ought to do this for our kids... We ought to have a high school so that every kid who grows up here - they're all our kids - gets a good high school education.

Young Americans are dropping out of religion at an alarming rate of five to six times the historic rate.

A society that relies on generalized reciprocity is more efficient than a distrustful society, for the same reason that money is more efficient than barter. Trust lubricates social life. Networks of civic engagement also facilitate coordination and communication and amplify information about the trustworthiness of other individuals.