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Habits of the Heart, With a New Preface: Individualism and Commitment in American Life Paperback – September 17, 2007

by Robert N. Bellah (Author), Richard Madsen (Author), William M. Sullivan (Author),
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 94 ratings
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First published in 1985, Habits of the Heart continues to be one of the most discussed interpretations of modern American society, a quest for a democratic community that draws on our diverse civic and religious traditions. In a new preface the authors relate the arguments of the book both to the current realities of American society and to the growing debate about the country's future. With this new edition one of the most influential books of recent times takes on a new immediacy.
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  1. Print length
    410 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of California Press
  4. Publication date
    September 17, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0520254198
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0520254190
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Habits of the Heart is, rare among works of scholarly origin, an outspoken and even emotional plea for attention to an argument, and a danger. Its power is in the passion of its analysis, the vision of us...narrowing the gap between the inordinate rewards of success and the not less inordinate punishments for failure, in economic terms, in the society." ― Los Angeles Times

"(A) brilliant analysis. Easily the richest and most readable study of American society . . . since The Lonely Crowd." ― Newsweek

From the Inside Flap

"The contemporary benchmark from which to look back and look forward in the continuing inquiry about American character." Daniel Bell

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition, With a New Preface (September 17, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 410 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520254198
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520254190
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 94 ratings

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  1. Ann Swidler

    Ann Swidler

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  2. William M. Sullivan

    William M. Sullivan

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  3. Robert Neelly Bellah

    Robert Neelly Bellah

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  4. Richard Madsen

    Richard Madsen

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
94 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

John P. Mueller
5.0 out of 5 stars Relevant for Our Times
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2016
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Using interviews of a wide cross section of people, Bellah dissects the problems we face in the post-modern world, relates them to the findings of Tocqueville ~150 years earlier, provides historical continuity and context with the development of the US and finally offers an approach for change that would need to be of the magnitude of the civil rights movement. It really blew my mind, in a good way.
10 people found this helpful
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Jovana De la Rosa
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
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This is a perfect book for educating and relating to modern day focus as citizens of a nation. Purpose and position is everything!
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Happy Camper
5.0 out of 5 stars The way we are and can be
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2020
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Reminds us that when we look we see both individualism and community in America
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George Fulmore
4.0 out of 5 stars More of an analysis than a vision?
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2007
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"Habits of the Heart" is not an easy read. There are five authors, none of whom seem to identify themselves. For example, in the edition I've read, there are three Prefaces, none of which ends with the name of an author.
Because of this, there may be less coherence in the flow of the book than there could be. But there is so much "meat" in the book that it is still a good read. But because there are so many quotable areas, and so many opinions expressed, I'm sure a variety of reviews could flow from the book. Here's mine:

The thesis of the book appears to be the argument that in a simpler America, we were tied by obvious economic and social interactions. We could be fiercely individualistic, e.g., as the Blacksmith of a small community, but we were linked because our livelihood was probably dependent on neighbors, and our social base, probably our church, was common to the community.
But, today, with our "utilitarian individualism" remaining, we have spread out and now are confused by our links to our neighbors and communities. We move more often. We are not as likely to be economically dependent on our immediate neighbors. We can easily be convinced that the "success" we have achieved has been via our own hard work and ambition and that we may not have much responsibility to contribute back to our immediate neighbors or communities.
The book mentions, but does not dwell on, the Biblical tradition/obligation to respect and acknowledge the dignity of all. It also talks about the "underclass," saying at one point that solving its plight is one of the greatest challenges of all and that this will take an enormous amount of money. But it also points out that in today's world, it is also easy for successful individuals to convince themselves that those in the underclass have only themselves to blame and/or to think that welfare reform efforts do more harm than good.
The authors seem to come from a personal therapy background and viewpoint that may have been gathered first-hand: "Many people feel empty and don't know \why they feel that way. They have been sold a bill of goods by our system: cash, convenience and consumerism....The reason you don't feel part of it is because nobody is a part of it."
But, at the same time, they appear to be more than willing to look at various sides of an issue, and not take a "hard," simplistic stand:
Values: There are skeptical references about how people form "values" and if they can be trusted to be anything more than based on self-interest.
Marriage and family: There is support for marriage and family responsibilities, but it is pointed out that "to imagine that society's problems can be traced to individuals with inadequate family values seems to us sadly mistaken." Next to religious commitment, kinship and family provides another basis of "social solidarity."
Being single: It is no longer disgraceful to remain unmarried. Further, no one HAS to have children. And one can leave a marriage one doesn't like even when young children are involved.
Government programs: "Neocapitalist ideology aims to convince us that all government social programs have been disastrous failures."
Religion: "Major religious can move people away from the preoccupation with self toward some larger identity." Religion is one of he most important ways that American's "get involved."
Television: "...it would be difficult to argue that there is any coherent ideology or overall message that it communicates."
Business Leadership: "Leaders are frequently power-hungry bullies without any moral restraints."
Childrearing: Children are trained to be independent self-sufficient individuals. Leaving home involves separation and renewed identity. "Leaving home" may include also leaving the parents' church.
Trend to liberalization: "Younger folks tend to be more liberal, less accepting of hypocrisy, e.g., rejecting the belief that only Christians get to heaven."
Public Service: "Most people involve themselves in social institutions to achieve self-interests or because they feel an affinity with certain others."
Today's metropolitan world: "...a wold of diverse, often hostile groups, interdependent in ways too complex for an individual to comprehend." "...we spend most of our time navigating through immense bureaucratic structures - multiversities, corporations, government agencies." And, don't forget those megachurches!

Get the drift? A ton of subject areas are covered and tons of ideas and opinions expressed.
Plus, throughout the book there are references to Tocqueville's studies of America. He found Americans to be "restless in the midst of prosperity." He also found the "new individualism" strangely compatible with conformism. Reference to Tocqueville weaves in and out in the book.
There is also a sense of limits to what can be done: "The individual's need to be successful in work becomes the enemy of the need to find meaning of one's work in service to others." And "Americans know that society is rigged, as is the marketplace."
And an occasional dose of reality: "Midlife, especially for middle-class American men often marks the end of the dream of being able to move forward without compromise, to achieve `perfection.' Unemployment can be particularly painful." (Or, how about a kid or two with "problems?")

But let's end by getting back to what appears to be the book's thesis, by stringing some quotes from the book together:
"What has failed at every level...is integration...we have failed to remember our community as members of the same body."
In an ideal world "it would become part of the ethos of work to be aware of our intricate connectness and interdependence."
"...traditions help us to know that it does make a difference who we are and how we treat one another."
And, "...in our desperate effort to free ourselves from the constrictions of the past, we have jettisoned too much, forgetting a history that we cannot abandon."
"In a healthy society, the private and public life are not mutually exclusive...they are two halves of a whole, two poles of a paradox." "Taking cared of one's own is an admirable motive. But when it combines with suspicion of and withdrawal from the public world, it is one of the conditions of despotism Tocqueville feared."

Another suggestion is that "only effective institutions - economic, political and social - make complex, modern societies livable." Another: "We are facing trends that threaten our basic sense of solidarity with others." And: "The erosion of meaning and coherence in our lives is not something Americans desire."
But a coherent, confident plan to get us "back" to some state of integration is not really convincing in the book. Instead, we get: "it is not clear that many Americans are prepared to consider a significant change in the way we have been living. The allure of the packaged good life is still strong"...even though..."our material belongs have not brought us happiness." And, there is "no question that many Americans find their contribution of work and private lifestyle satisfying."

Today's politicians of all stripes can score points by saying that "America is not headed in the right direction." The statement is broad and open to interpretation. The statement assumes that government leaders are not to be trusted to make the "right" decisions. But the statement is also shallow and meaningless without specific suggestions/recommendations.
For the most part, this is the problem with "Habits of the Heart." I don't think it is ever very convincing in telling us how to turn the ship of state back in the "right direction." Or even if it truly IS in the wrong direction.
But, as I said earlier, there is so much information and so many interesting ideas included, it is a good read. And, maybe, it becomes the basis for individuals to begin to make decisions within their own lives as to where they fit in their "commitments in American life" and the world.

End of Book Review by George Fulmore.
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Will B
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2016
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Very, very informative read. It was amazing how much I see everything they discussed in my own life and the rest of America. Great book that adds so much to the discussion. It requires discussion so do not read this book alone!
7 people found this helpful
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Kelly Turk
5.0 out of 5 stars Bellah! need I say more?
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2013
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What can I say, it's Robert Bellah. I actually purchased two copies of this, one for me and one for a friend - because MY copy will not leave my grubby little hands (or at least not my bookshelf). Bellah never fails to inspire.
One person found this helpful
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Jon
1.0 out of 5 stars Don’t waste your time…unless it’s assigned for school.
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2021
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Terrible. I only had to read this book for a master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy. Let me sum it up for the other people scrambling for some synopsis (because, let’s be honest, ain’t nobody reading this book): de Tocqueville said a long time ago that individualism was going to be the downfall of American communities. Spoiler alert: he was right. The authors interviewed middle class white Americans in the 1980’s (because apparently only their opinion mattered? 🤷‍♂️) who said they want to hold on to “traditional American values” but “be true to ourselves” at the same time. Save yourself the time and find the cliffsnotes version of this book instead.
10 people found this helpful
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panrak
3.0 out of 5 stars Audible version voice is a bit distracting
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023
Audible version is terrible. The person reading seems to be more about trying to put on a performance than reading a book. I couldn’t concentrate on what was being said because it was so over the top and had to quit listening.

Edit:
I was able to go back and listen to by setting the speed at 1.2x - at this speed it is a bit less distracting and I have been able to actually listen. I’ll review this after finishing the book - seems an interesting topic.
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