Palaces for the people : how social infrastructure can help fight inequality polarization and the decline of civic life An eminent sociologist and coauthor with Aziz Ansari of the #1 New York Times bestseller Modern Romance makes the provocative case that the future of democratic societies rests not only on shared values but also on shared social infrastructure : the libraries childcare centers bookstores coffee shops pools and parks that promote crucial sometimes life saving connections between people who might otherwise fail to find common cause The future of democratic societies rests not only on shared values but also on shared social infrastructure : the libraries childcare centers bookstores coffee shops pools and parks that promote crucial sometimes life saving connections between people who might otherwise fail to find common cause