num_pages: 368
description: This landmark book about America's "habits of the heart"--Tocqueville's expression for the mix of traits essential to our national character--explores the tradition Americans use to make sense of themselves and their society, and it presents one of today's major moral dilemmas: the conflict between our fierce individualism and our urgent need for community and commitment to one another.Basing their research on a massive five-year study of various American communities, the authors conclude that Americans, largely confined to a vocabulary of individualism, have lost the language needed to make moral sense of their lives. Wives and husbands, managers, psychotherapists, local business people, and civic activists tell how hard it can be to commit yourself to others if you believe that "in the end you're really alone, and you really have to answer to yourself." Clearly a product and reflection of our times, Habits of the Heart offers us a forward-looking window on American's search for tradition and meaning in life."Habits of the Heart holds up a mirror to American values, makes us examine ourselves, and dares us to question where our society is going. [It] will make you question your own habits and look into your own heart. Not many books possess that ability." -- George Keller, Baltimore SunContentsPrefaceINTRODUCTORY1. The Pursuit of Happiness2. Culture and Character: The Historical ConversationI. PRIVATE LIFE3. Finding Oneself4. Love and Marriage5. Reaching Out6. IndividualismII. PUBLIC LIFE7. Getting Involved8. Citizenship9. Religion10. The National SocietyCONCLUSION11. Transforming American CultureAppendix: Social Science as Public Philosophy
language: English
title: Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life
titlecomplete: Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life
genres: Cultural, Politics, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychology, Social Science, Spirituality, Religion
ratings_count: 970
awards: awardedAt: 504950400000
name: Pulitzer Prize
category: General Nonfiction, awardedAt: 473414400000
name: Los Angeles Times Book Prize
category: Current Interest
publisher: Harper & Row, Publishers