Summary of the Theme
Under the banner of "I've got my rights" Americans have forged a government and established a way of life unparalleled in history. The "American Way" celebrates the supremacy of individual rights over the idea of community. But does this promote selfishness and a breakdown of society? Can individual choice and freedom coexist with duty and loyalty to others?

Generations of writers have grappled with the relation between individualism and communty. By reading their observations and reflecting on their conclusions, we can gain a better understanding of our present-day political thought and can make judgments on where we want to go from here.

Book List

• Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville
• The Republic by Plato
• Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
• The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  

Program Brochure
The humanities scholar's essay was written in 1984 by Allan Bloom. Dr. Bloom is Professor on the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago and specializes in the study of political philosophy.


To access these program materials, you will need Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader installed on your computer, click here for a free download.

   Scholar's essay, annotated book list, and supplementary texts (pdf)*

"How To" Discussion Programming Guide
Developed to aid participants in “The Millennium Project for Public Libraries,” this programming guide provides basic information about developing and promoting book discussion programs.

* The American Library Association is the copyright owner of this essay and annotations. The credit lines embedded in the program materials and/or sponsor and funder logos must remain on all published (print and web) materials derived from these materials.