We're up, McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast.

So in the past 20 years or so, there's been an increasing number of research by sociologists

and other academics about the declining sense of community, community life in America.

There's research showing that Americans are joining civic organizations less than they used to,

things like civic club, PTA, even bowling leagues, like people aren't really doing that anymore.

In fact, there's research showing that Americans really don't know who their neighbors are anymore.

They can live in a neighborhood for 10, 15 years and not really know much about the neighbor

across the street, it's a complete stranger to them.

And there's been a lot of theories about why that is.

Well, my guess today makes the bold case of what we're seeing right now is a transformation

in the way Americans organize themselves socially.

His name is Mark Duckelman, he's the author of the book, The Vanishing Neighbor,

the transformation of American community.

And in it, he argues what's going on with this transformation, why it's happening,

and the effects that it's having on institutions like government, public schools,

even business in America.

Really fascinating topic.

And today on the show, we're going to discuss why we're seeing a declining sense of community

in the traditional sense of we think about it and what's replacing it.

Really great discussion.

And without further ado, Mark Duckelman and The Vanishing Neighbor.

All right, Mark Duckelman, welcome to the show.

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