This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. Why Nothing Works

   

   Why Nothing Works examines why the United States struggles to tackle major problems despite past capacity for large public projects. Marc J. Dunkelman argues that a modern “vetocracy”—rules and norms that let many actors block action—has produced paralysis, and that both political opponents and reform-minded progressives share responsibility. He calls for progressives to rethink their hesitations about using government power, revive a pragmatic reformist tradition, and restore public confidence in democratically elected institutions.

   The 12986th Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. The Vanishing Neighbor

   The Transformation of American Community

   

   The book traces the erosion of everyday neighborly ties in American communities over recent decades, documenting how increased mobility, suburban design, changing work patterns, privacy norms, and the decline of shared public spaces have turned once-interconnected neighborhoods into places of anonymity and weakened social support. It examines the social and civic consequences—greater isolation, reduced mutual aid, and lower local engagement—and explores how planning, policy, and grassroots efforts might rebuild more resilient, sociable neighborhoods.

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