The Home We Build Together: Recreating Society

Rabbi Sacks' thesis on the future of British society and the dangers facing liberal democracy. With a new foreword by Daniel Finkelstein. Arguing that global communications have fragmented national cultures and that multiculturalism, intended to reduce social frictions, is today reinforcing them, Sacks argues for a new approach to national identity, making the case for "integrated diversity" within a framework of shared political values. Britain, he argues, will have to construct a national narrative as a basis for identity, reinvigorate the concept of the common good, and identify shared interests among currently conflicting groups. It must restore a culture of civility, protect "neutral spaces" from politicization, and find ways of moving beyond an adversarial culture in which the loudest voice wins. He argues for a responsibility- rather than rights-based model of citizenship that connects the ideas of giving and belonging. Offering a new paradigm to replace previous models of assimilation on the one hand, multiculturalism on the other, he argues that we should see society as "the home we build together", bringing the distinctive gifts of different groups to the common good. Sacks warns of the hazards free and open societies face in the twenty-first century, and offers an unusual religious defence of liberal democracy and the nation state.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Foreword Part One: How Did We Get Here? 1. Introduction 2. Society as Country House, Hotel or Home 3. A Brief History of Multiculturalism 4. The Defeat of Freedom in the Name of Freedom 5. Victims 6. Technology and the Fragmentation of Culture 7. The Inward Turn Part Two: A Theory of Society Creation 8. A Forgotten Political Classic 9. Social Contract, Social Covenant 10. Telling the Story 11. The Responsible Society 12. The Home We Build Together Part Three: Where Next? 13. The Uses of Covenant 14. Who Am I? 15. Face-to-Face, Side-by-Side 16. Civility 17. Multiculturalism or Tolerance? 18. Mending the Broken Family 19. A Religious Defence of Liberal Democracy 20. A Time to Build Notes Suggestions for Further Reading Index

About the Author :
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Britain and the Commonwealth. He was the author of numerous books, including Celebrating Life, From Optimism to Hope, The Persistence of Faith and The Dignity of Difference, for which he won a Grawemeyer Award in Religion.

Review :
These paperback editions of his timeless works celebrate his legacy for today. With stunning new covers and forewords by brilliant writers from around the world, they are perfect for anyone wishing to reacquaint themselves with Rabbi Sacks' writing, and for introducing a new generation to his evergreen wisdom. ...wonderfully articulate and highly readable book We, the majority, could want no more eloquent and intelligent advocate than Jonathan Sacks to 'speak for England', or indeed for Britain. Identity in a post-multicultural society will have a new foundation, if Sacks has his way. I found Mr Sack's detailed examination of social contracts and civil society, which he suggests is best grounded in covenantal commitments, most interesting... I was encouraged by Mr Sack's vision. British Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks is the premier public intellectual of Judaism in the English-speaking world and has no obvious counterpart in the communities of Judaism conducted in other languages. No one in Israeli intellectual life competes ...This book joins with its predecessors...to form an oeuvre of moral authority and compelling logic. For a corpus of writing substantially less ambitious than this some have received the Nobel Prize. There is much of great wisdom here, for readers of all faiths and none. Sacks confronts issues many would prefer to ignore and presents responses which will make some people uncomfortable. Nevertheless these are issues we have to address if we want to enjoy social cohesion. This important book...addresses a crucial theme A deeply philosophical, yet extremely hard-hitting book. [Sacks] argues like an expert dancer, leading his audience through a waltz of lilting reasonableness.