Bozeman Magazine

Montana State University will host a lecture with authors Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett on Friday, Oct. 1, as part of Parent and Family Weekend.

The authors will discuss their new book, “The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again,” at 4 p.m. in Ballroom A of the Strand Union Building on MSU’s campus. Attendees will gather in person, but the authors will speak virtually. The event is free and open to parents, family members and the public. Per CDC guidelines, masks are strongly encouraged.

In their book, Putnam and Garrett demonstrate how the United States has gone from an individualistic “I” society to a more communitarian “we” society — and then back again. They also explain how Americans can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more unified nation.

Following the lecture, there will be a Q&A session moderated by MSU Dean of Students Matt Caires.

According to Caires, this is the first time Parent and Family Weekend has featured a speaker who is prominent in their academic field.

“We want to thank our Bobcat parents for their ongoing generosity to our university and our students,” Caires said. “Through their continued support, we plan on returning the favor and investing in future programming for parents. Our office’s mission is to support the health and well-being of our students, but we find it equally valuable to have family members partake in what MSU has to offer.”

Putnam is the Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and a former dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Nationally honored as a leading humanist and a renowned scientist, he has written 14 books, including the bestselling “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis” and “Bowling Alone: Restoring the American Community,” and has consulted for four former U.S. presidents. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities. His research program, the Saguaro Seminar, is dedicated to fostering civic engagement in America.

Garrett is an author, speaker and award-winning social entrepreneur. She is a founding contributor to “Weave: The Social Fabric Project,” an Aspen Institute initiative. Garrett also contributed to the book “American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us,” written by Putnam and David E. Campbell. Garnett holds a degree in government from Harvard University.

More information on Parent and Family weekend can be found at montana.edu/parents/parent-family-weekend/index.html.