Fractured: Why our societies are coming apart and how we put them back together again

by Jon Yates

‘An urgent manifesto for collective healing.’ David Lammy MPThis landmark book tackles a deceptively simple the more we spend time with people unlike ourselves, doing things together, the more understanding, tolerant, and even friendly we become.

Combining fresh analysis with a wealth of fascinating examples, Jon Yates demonstrates the ways in which our societies have become disconnected, so that most of us spend less and less time with people who are different — as defined by age, race, or class, earning power or education.

By answering a series of surprising questions, Yates reveals a set of truths that will change the way you think about yourself and those around you. What unites the England football team, the iPod and Singapore? How did a city that funded its schools the least become the best place to grow up poor? How did Silicon Valley come from nowhere to dominate the tech industry? How did a village of Italian-Americans become incredibly healthy while smoking cigars, drinking red wine and never exercising? And why is talking to our friends about politics the worst thing we can do for our democracy?

Fractured is ultimately an optimistic book, showing convincingly how great people are when they're united in diversity. It argues that the pandemic has created an unprecedented opportunity for us to come together. So we must forge a new ‘Common Life’ – a set of shared practises and institutions — that can strengthen the glue that bonds our societies, in all their diversity.

For the health of our democracy, our society, and our economy, the time to act is now.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Society, Psychology, Relationships, Philosophy

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2021

Reviews

[Laura Spira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've given this book 3 stars because it is very well written but I have to confess that I didn't finish it. It's a powerful polemic about how society has become more divided and how we need to re-establish a stronger sense of community, what Jon Yates calls "Common Life". His evidence on how this has happened is somewhat persuasive but, as I read the stories with which he supports his argument, I constantly found myself thinking "Yes, but.." because I found his interpretations very simplistic. When I reached the part about the bonding effect of a particular Jewish liturgical ritual - a topic of which I'm fairly sure I have more experience than the author - I became too irritated to carry on reading because it seemed to me to ignore a great many other variables underpinning the bonding effect. And trying to argue with a book is a very frustrating experience. I did look at the end of the book to check out the author's suggestions for how to change things: he lists practical steps individuals can take and some readers might find this useful.

[✨ Anna ✨ | ReadAllNight]

Saw review in The Economist July 2021.

[Daniel Homorodean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather shallow approach to a very important topic of our time. Arguments are simplistic and repetitive and the proposed solutions are more of the "common sense" type (local community projects, more time dedicated to social participation, etc.), rather than systemic public policy ideas. However, the readers might find it as a good incentive for their own thoughts on how the problem can be approached.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched an on-line talk by the author which led me to buy a copy of his book. It's a fascinating read about how modern society is becoming more divided. I am not quite sure that I agreed with all the author's conclusions but this is definitely worth a read.

[Martin Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

as a collection of relevant literature, it's useful. as a book, I found it a slog. I find the constant need to try to tell me how to think very annoying.
also, the whole thing is about the need to come together across boundaries, but then his mate stays at a farm, the farmer says something politically he disagrees with so the mate goes to eat away from the farmer. there's something of the it's just for us, if I enlighten you, you can be enlightened enough to think like me. then you'll he clever like me and right too. gets annoying

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tightly argued and compelling diagnosis of the problem and the cause. Slightly less clear that the proposed solutions are sufficient to meet the weight of the challenge, but it's a start.

[anna b · Rating 3 out of 5]

(TLDR: Singaporeans to read the list of 32 actions and start doing something now.)

I find this book really dry and a very long read with all the research data to set the context, but understand that it is essential if readers do not have background or knowledge in social policy. If you are familiar with policy making, I suggest you to skip the first two parts and start right at part three. It's kind of repetitive so you won't miss out any research info mentioned, you could treat the first two parts as reference as you read part three.

Now, as I read the book I was thinking to myself wasn't this or that what Singapore is doing or had done. And I was pleasantly surprised that Singapore was mentioned that had created a "common life". It also mentioned the ethnic integration programme played a big part as it concerns housing.

This book was written before our 2021 National Day Rally. So, what is wrong now with Singapore? Why are our fault lines appearing and why are we starting to be divided? Are we moving too fast? We our aspirations misplaced due to populist comments made by politicians? Some thoughts - our education admission system needs a fundamental review. EIP continues to work, it's people who chose not to accept it prob because of aspirations. How could our younger generation who held freedom so closely to their hearts accept our policies which do not reflect true democracy?

At the end of the books are some tips how we could behave and what we could do (without government intervention) to move towards a common life among ourselves. I hope Singaporeans who read this book could think about those tips and set actions forth. Well, since it's National Day today so, Majulah Singapura!

[Zablon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In Salt Lake city, a common life of schools and churches is providing something vital to poorer families: networks and connections. Young, low-income students learn and go to Temple alongside their richer peers. They have access to the same friendships, the same contacts and the same expectations. The result is a level of social mobility that countries across the West are investing millions to reach and still falling short.”

[Phil Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. Loved it.

[thomas]

Interesting if not very different from most of the data already available.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audio) Fascinating, educational, thought provoking

[Ignacio P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me pareció sumamente interesante, toca un tema que para mi es preocupante, con muchos ejemplos reales y claros. No se da muchas vueltas, y no caen en eternos capítulos llenos de rodeos. Es un libro que no dudaría en recomendar.

[Iván · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy interesante ensayo. Explica muy bien realidades de nuestra sociedad.