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Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life
First published in 1985, Habits of the Heart continues to be one of the most discussed interpretations of modern American society, a quest for a democratic community that draws on our diverse civic and religious traditions.
In a new preface the authors relate the arguments of the book both to the current realities of American society and to the growing debate about the cou
Paperback, 355 pages
Published
May 1st 1986
by HarperCollins Publishers
(first published 1985)
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As a former student of sociology with intense curiosity about modern social/political/economic phenomena, I really enjoyed this book and would probably give a copy as a gift to student friends. What I especially liked was the ending where the six (3 pairs) American visions of the public good are outlined, ending with the Administered Society vs. Economic Democracy, neither of which sound pleasant.
I especially like how this analysis unfolds from a "classical republican" perspective and maintains...more
I especially like how this analysis unfolds from a "classical republican" perspective and maintains...more
This multi-authored sociological study, first published in 1985 and updated in 1996, posits a common core belief among Americans, “the belief that economic success or misfortune is the individual’s responsibility, and his or hers alone.” This individualism “values independence and self-reliance above all else.” I thought about this recently after experiencing Verdi’s early opera, “Ernani,” in which the governing virtue was honor, little thought or spoken about today in our country and culture. C...more
I am intrigued. More and more lately, I find myself questioning my lifelong premise that there is a particular purpose for my life, and that it is my duty to discover and fulfill that purpose. One may even be hard pressed to prove conclusively that there is any particular purpose, at all, to our individual lives. It may be that my life has whatever purpose and meaning I choose to assign to it. I'm not particularly comforted by that, but now that I have made it through the Preface to the 2008 Edi...more
Apr 29, 2007
Katya Littleton
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who want to bore themselves to death
Shelves:
2007
This book made me want to bash my head in. Boring, repetitive, and I was forced to finish it for class. If the bookstore doesn't buy it back, I'm setting it on fire and laughing maniacally.
This is an exceptional sociological examination of American society. The authors use Democracy in America as an interpretive horizon for the evolution of American Society in the late 20th century. Where de- Tocqueville's America was politically and socially engaged, the socio-economic factors that have emerged in the last 40 years have worked to undermine communal opportunity. The authors provide a nice balance between case studies and social science. An exceptional read.
Mar 29, 2012
Landon
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
students of sociology
Recommended to Landon by:
class assignment
Sociological study...with a focus upon Christianity and American individualism...not my style. This was a class assignment, and the sociology in the book is quite the turn-off. It is dryly written and unengaging, for the layman. It provides the reader with analysis of all of America's problems in regards to individualism, but offers no solutions - highly frustrating.
I could not get through this book. The whining, self-centeredness, and limited scope of types of people included made the generalizations impossible to stomach. It is probably best loved by children of the 60s, or people who spend their time trying to "find themselves."
I had to read it for my Civic Engagement & Social Action class. Since I do go to a Catholic university I thought it was appropriate for my school and he actually came to my school and spoke to our community about religion and other topics in sociology.
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Timeless work, really. Bob Bellah, et al, really hit the nail on the head. Excellent anthropological analysis. Practical application.
Jul 04, 2012
Katie Sargent
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
educational-philosophy,
educational-history
Start by reading Bellah's article in Daedalos, Issue 96, Winter 97. This is the groundbreaking essay which sets the stage.
Though written in the 1980s, the racist and sexist tones in this book would make you think it was written in the 1880s. Horrible.
A good examination of, to put it in very simple terms, the problematic place of individualism in American life. Wish I had read the latest edition, though.
Great book! It has been criticized for attempting to mix ideology with science (anthropology, in particular) but I had no problem with accepting it for what it is - an opinionated book by a group of thoughtful social scientists. Definitely illuminates some key issues that seem to plague the health of western modernity and ties them directly to the ubiquitous presence of an individualist mindset. The authors certainly convinced me to be more observant and suspicious of individualism in general.
Minus the slight and inexplicable bigotry, my new bible.
The gist: Individualism (whether economic or spiritual) cannot provide meaning, however worthy the freedom it offers may be. Nor can the weak forms of association found in "lifestyle enclaves," inhabited as they are only by similar people who join seeking personal fulfillment. A meaningful life can only be lived in a community, sustained by tradition and by service to others.
This book was part of a Sociology of Culture graduate class. I am an atheist and generally tend to loathe how religion separates us from one another, and the message that I got from this book was that religion is a wonderful thing that is necessary to hold society together. I found that very depressing.
This is pretty dense book to read, almost as bad as a textbook. But worth it. I loved the ideas about community and the way the authors talked about American values such as independence and how people validate their idea of service. If you can stay with it to the end, this book is worth reading.
Dec 19, 2011
Courtney Kane
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
political-theory
A very good and important study of contemporary American culture. I'm uncomfortable with their conclusions...
This book gives you some vocabulary to think and talk about the state of the American society. I found it very thoughtful and stimulating.
So far, I have paralysis by analysis. I am hoping it goes away soon by "this is what it all means ending." I am not hopeful though.
Dec 01, 2011
Jamie
marked it as unfinished
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
philosophy,
psychology
Pretty much too boring to get past the first few pages...and I like this kind of stuff. Maybe someday I'll dig it up again?
I've read parts of this. But not all.
What I do know is that it's a call for the return of morals to counseling psychology.
What I do know is that it's a call for the return of morals to counseling psychology.
Incredible analysis of the moral climate in modern america. Easy to understand, and stimulating on many levels
Sep 18, 2007
Lindsay Campbell
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Americans
Dissects the culture of American individualism. Great precursor to Putnam and others' work on social capital.
Professor Andrew Garrod taught this book in his course entitled Moral Development and Moral Education.
Could have been a lot shorter.
abandoned, not finished.
review forthcoming...
recommended by tricia
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Bellah is Elliott Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Cal, and coauthor of Habits of the Human Heart. In 2000, President Clinton awarded Bellah the National Humanities Medal and, in 2007, he received the American Academy of Religion Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion. Religion in Human Evolution is the result of Bellahs lifetime interest in the evolution of religion and...more
More about Robert N. Bellah...
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“What people need to accept is that it is there responsibility to communicate what they need and what they feel, and to realize that they cannot expect someone else magically to make them happy. People want to be made happy, instead of making themselves happy”
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“If other people don't meet your needs, you have to be willing to walk out, since in the end that may well be the only one way to protect your interests.”
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