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.

  • Odd Fellows #80

    Waxahachie, TX — An old federated society chapter bucking decline trends.

  • Red Bike & Green

    Atlanta, GA — A Black cycling collective.


  • Plainsong Farm & Ministry

    Rockford, MI — An ecumenical ministry on a farm.

  • Bowl Portland

    Portland, ME — A thriving, modern bowling league.


  • CIELO

    Los Angeles, CA — An indigenous mutual aid and advocacy group.


  • Chicago Gig Alliance

    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

GroupCityStateDateLocation
Eastlake High SchoolChula VistaCAOct 10, 20241120 Eastlake Parkway
Chula Vista, CA 91915
East County Citizens' AlliancePortlandOROct 10, 2024705 N Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR 97217
Clark University WorcesterMAOct 10, 2024950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio CityStudio CityCAOct 11, 202412355 Moorpark St
Studio City, CA 91604
AvaazNayarit,MexicoOct 14, 2024Mar de Jade #1 Chacala
Nayarit, Mexico C.P. 63708
Moving To Our Center & JCC DenverDenverCOOct 15, 2024350 S. Dahlia St.
Denver, CO 80246
Mount Vernon Place United Methodist ChurchWashingtonDCOct 16, 2024900 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC 20001
Maybelle CenterPortlandORDec 4, 20243530 SE Division Street
Portland OR 97202
St. Paul's United Methodist ChurchKensingtonMDOct 17, 202410401 Armory Ave
Kensington, MD 20895
Metro State UniversitySaint PaulMNOct 17, 2024700 East Seventh Street
Saint Paul, MN 55106
Heather ClevelandAlamedaCAOct 20, 20241520 Schiller street
Alameda CA 94501
United Way of VermillionVermillionSDOct 22, 202410 E Main St
Vermillion, SD 57069
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian ChurchBryn MawrPAOct 23, 2024625 Montgomery Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
threadBaltimoreMDOct 23, 20245 West North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21201
First Congregational Church of HartlandHartlandVTOct 24, 202410 Station Road
Hartland, VT 05048
Piedmont Community ChurchPiedmontCAOct 25, 2024400 Highland Ave
Piedmont, CA 94611
14th Street YNew YorkNYOct 29, 2024344 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
EmersonBostonMANov 6, 2024559 Washington St
Boston, MA 02111
Good Shepherd Episcopal ChurchSilver SpringMDNov 6, 2024818 University Blvd. West
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Chesapeake ForumEastonMDNov 7, 2024100 W Dover St.
Easton, MD 21601
Pottsboro LibraryPottsboroTXNov 9, 2024104 N. Main St.
Pottsboro, TX 75076
Minnesota FreemasonsBloomingtonMNNov 11, 202411411 Masonic Home Drive
Bloomington, MN 55437
Wauwatosa Health Department ScreeningWauwatosaWINov 12, 20246823 W North Ave
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
National League of Cities TampaFLNov 14, 2024333 South Franklin St.
Tampa, FL 33602
Congregation B'nai Israel of Albuquerque, NMAlbuquerqueNMNov 16, 20244401 Indian School Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Ridgewood Public LibraryRidgewoodNJNov 17, 2024125 N. Maple Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
NYS Commission on National and Community ServiceLake PlacidNYNov 19, 20242127 Saranac Ave
Lake Placid, NY 12946
University of GeorgiaAthensGANov 21, 202445 Baxter St
Athens, GA 30602
Canadian Human Connection ConferenceVancouverCanadaNov 4, 2024515 W. Hastings St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada, V6B 5K3

HOST A SCREENING


Join or Die is screening all over the world during 2024 and 2025 for our Join Up! Tour. If you are part of a civic group, campus, congregation, company, neighborhood (or any gathering of three or more people!), 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