For the Common Good?: American Civic Life and the Golden Age of Fraternity [Paperback]

Jason Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195148584 | ISBN-13: 978-0195148589 | Publication Date: July 17, 2003

The Golden Age of Fraternity was a unique time in American history. Joining clubs, fraternities, militias, and mutual benefit societies between the Civil and First World Wars was so prevalent that many contemporaries see it as a model for a revitalization of American civil society today. Relying on extensive analysis of city directories, club histories, and membership lists, For the Common Good? aims to dispel many of the myths about the curative powers of clubbing while bringing to light the hidden lessons therein.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a good book. It is dense with information, well written, logically argued, and methodologically rigorous and adds structure to arguments where it was desperately needed. Overall, Kaufman takes on some cherished myths of American association. Viewed as an essential antidote to the generally positive views of associationalism in the late nineteenth century, For the Common Good? should be readby anyone interested in association, trust, social capital, civil society, or any other form of prosocial behavior."--Social Forces

"...a man on a mission. Dissenting from Alexis de Tocqueville and Robert Putnam, [Kaufman] examines the dark side of American voluntary associations...Kaufman carefully chronicles the development of a wide array of associations, including volunteer fire companies, business associations, shooting clubs, and, most especially, fraternal societies...He raises many challenging questions that other scholars have failed to ask. A copy of For the Common Good? should be on the shelf of any specialist in the history of American voluntary associations."--EH.NET

"An important and readable book that raises essential questions about democracy in the United States and its past and future."--Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations

"Stimulating and original"--Library Journal, starred selection

"Jason Kaufman is a man on a mission. Dissenting from Alexis de Tocqueville and Robert Putnam, he examines the dark side of American voluntary associations... [his] research is diligent and he draws extensively and creatively from primary sourcesraises many challenging questions that other scholars fail to ask."--EH.NET

About the Author

Jason Kaufman is at Harvard University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195148584
• ISBN-13: 978-0195148589
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,136,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, even radical--and also convincing, May 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Common Good?: American Civic Life and the Golden Age of Fraternity (Paperback)

This book is a radical reinterpretation of the role of certain types of voluntary associations in American civil society. It first reviews the history of fraternal orders and secret societies in the 19th century and then expands its focus to other, related types of voluntary organization. Overall, I found it a convincing and eye-opening account of the roles of self-interest and organizational competition in the non-profit sector. The author makes some claims about the desirability of non-profits that you may not agree with, but he at least sheds revealing new light on a subject otherwise treated with kid gloves.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great condition, September 9, 2011

By 

Aaron De Leon (LA MESA, CA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For the Common Good?: American Civic Life and the Golden Age of Fraternity (Paperback)

This book came in great condition as was described on the description of the Amazon page. The book also arrived when expected.