

ABOUT THE FILM
In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis.
Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly… What can we do about it?
FEATURING
Join or Die spotlights six community groups working to revitalize American civic life.
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Odd Fellows #80
Waxahachie, TX — An old federated society chapter bucking decline trends.
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Red Bike & Green
Atlanta, GA — A Black cycling collective.
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Plainsong Farm & Ministry
Rockford, MI — An ecumenical ministry on a farm.
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Bowl Portland
Portland, ME — A thriving, modern bowling league.
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CIELO
Los Angeles, CA — An indigenous mutual aid and advocacy group.
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Chicago Gig Alliance
Chicago, IL — Rideshare drivers coming together to fight for better working conditions.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY SCREENINGS
Don't see a screening near you? Click here to host your own community screening of Join or Die
Group | City | State | 15 Union St. Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944 | Location |
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The Shelby Township Library | Shelby Township | MI | May 3, 2025 | 52610 Van Dyke Ave Shelby Township, MI 48316 |
Meaningful Movies Rainier Beach | Seattle | WA | May 3, 2025 | 6038 S. Pilgrim St. Seattle, WA 98118 |
The Center for Continuing Education | Mamaroneck | NY | May 7, 2025 | 1000 W Boston Post Rd. Mamaroneck, NY 10543 |
Crossing Party Lines - Braver Angels Long Island | Bay Shore | NY | May 7, 2025 | 28 Brentwood Rd. Bay Shore, NY 11706 |
San Diego State University | La Mesa | VA | May 8, 2025 | 9001 Wakarusa St. La Mesa, CA 91942 |
Community Nurses of Thetford | Thetford Center | VT | May 8, 2025 | 304 Academy Rd. Thetford Center, VT 05075 |
Indivisible Moscow | Moscow | ID | May 13, 2025 | 508 South Main St. Moscow, Idaho 83843 |
The State Theatre of Modesto | Modesto | CA | May 14, 2025 | 1307 J St. Modesto, CA 95354 |
Manchester-by-the-Sea Library | Manchester-by-the-Sea | MA | May 14, 2025 | 15 Union Street Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944 |
Berkeley Tennis Club | Berkeley | CA | May 16, 2025 | One Tunnel Rd Berkeley, CA 94705 |
Kingston Library | Kingston | NY | May 18, 2025 | 272 Wall St. Kingston, NY 12401 |
Rotary Club of Benicia | Benicia | CA | May 18, 2025 | 150 E L St. Benicia, CA 94510 |
Waquoit Congregational Church | East Falmouth | MA | May 25, 2025 | 15 Parsons Lane East Falmouth, MA 02536 |
Tranzac Club | Toronto | ON | May 25, 2025 | 292 Brunswick Ave Toronto, ON M5S 2M7 Canada |
Linn-Benton Community College | Corvallis | OR | May 25, 2025 | 931 NW Reiman Ave, Corvallis, OR 97330 |
City of Edmonton, Neighbourhood Services | Edmonton | Canada | May 28, 2025 | 16220 103 St. NW Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
AmeriCorps Rural Health Service Corps | Binghamton | NY | May 29, 2025 | 455 Court St. Binghamton, NY 1390 |
Baldwin Public Library | Birmingham | MI | Jun 1, 2025 | 300 West Merrill St. Birmingham, MI 48009 |
Bradley University | Peoria | IL | Jun 9, 2025 | 222 SW Washington St. Peoria, IL 61602 |
Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center | Montvale | NJ | Jun 11, 2025 | 12 Depiero Dr # 100 Montvale, NJ 07645 |
Denver Neighborhood Film Fest | Denver | CO | Jun 12, 2025 | 2644 W 32nd Ave Denver, CO 80211 |
Deborah Rawson Memorial Library | Jericho | VT | Jun 16, 2025 | 8 River Rd. Jericho, VT 05465 |
Noel Wien Public Library | Fairbanks | AK | Jun 17, 2025 | 1215 Cowles St. Fairbanks, AK 99701 |
Elbert County Chamber of Commerce | Elberton | GA | Jun 22, 2025 | 100 South Oliver St. Elberton, GA 30635 |
Milton Council on Aging | Milton | MA | Jun 23, 2025 | 10 Walnut St. Milton, MA 02186 |
Jeudevine Library | Hardwick | VT | Jun 26, 2025 | 93 N Main St. Hardwick, VT 05843 |
Fort Lee Public Library | Fort Lee | NJ | Jul 19, 2025 | 153 Main Street Fort Lee, NJ 07024 |
University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | IN | Aug 7, 2025 | 8600 University Blvd. Evansville, IN 47712 |
The Little Theater in Rochester, NY | Rochester | NY | Sep 8, 2025 | 240 East Ave Rochester, NY 14604 |
The Sowing Room | Brainerd | MN | Sep 22, 2025 | 523 South 5th St. Brainerd, MN 56401 |
HOST A SCREENING
Join or Die is currently on an international community screening tour. If you are part of a civic group, campus, congregation, company, neighborhood (or any gathering of three or more people!) that would like to be a stop on the Join Up! Tour, reach out using the form below to inquire about hosting a screening.
MEET BOB
Harvard professor Robert D. Putnam is America’s preeminent political scientist — and one of the most widely read and cited social scientists living today. Author of fourteen books, translated into twenty languages, his work focuses on asking big questions about American society and deploying immense, creative studies and analyses to unlock answers.
His groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research — which demonstrated that levels of American community connections were in decline over the past half-century — rocketed Putnam to national fame in the late 1990s, earning him the moniker “the poet laureate of civil society” and the ear of presidents, religious leaders, and tech founders over the coming decades. In 2012, President Obama awarded Putnam the National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities. As more Americans turn on to the reality of our social isolation crisis, a consistent drumbeat of media interest in revisiting Putnam’s work has grown.
THE ‘BOWLING ALONE’ PHENOMENON
40% DECLINE
…from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of Americans who attended even one public meeting on town or school affairs in the previous year
60% DECLINE
....from the 1970s to the 1990s in the amount of picnics Americans attended annually
50% DECLINE
..from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of Americans who took any leadership role in any local organization.
35% DECLINE
…from the 1960s to the 2020s in religious congregation membership
50% DECLINE
...from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of times Americans attended a club meeting the previous year.
66% DECLINE
…from the 1960s to the 2010s in union membership
JOIN OR DIE BOOK CLUB
For further reading on the themes touched on in Join or Die, check out the following books
MEET THE TEAM
MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
PRESS
“Everyone should watch this movie. It’s put together in an approachable and entertaining way and it’s a conversation we need to be having.”
Rachel Wagner, March 30, 2023,
Rachel’s Reviews
“Clear and clever… leaves viewers contemplating the stark command of the title.”
Nicole M. Perone, November 18, 2024,
NCR
“The film is so convincing that you’ll likely be signing up for your local bowling league soon after the credits roll.”
Louisa Moore, March 19, 2024,
Screen Zealots
“Proves itself vital and relevant, a necessary documentary that promises the conversation will continue long after the credits have rolled.”
Stephanie Archer, March 15, 2023,
Film Inquiry
“Robert Putnam is an affable, sensitive person and a wonderful camera subject who never seems calculated, withholding, or insincere.”
Matt Zoller Seitz, March 13, 2023, RogerEbert.com
“Underlines the importance of civic engagement to our communities and each other. It shows us what is possible when people and communities pull together.”
Christopher Lane, July 29, 2024, Psychology Today
