The media plays a powerful role in shaping how we think about our neighbors—and often, it works against genuine connection.  News outlets, social media, and entertainment tend to emphasize conflict, danger, and difference. Turn on the evening news and you’ll likely see stories about crime, scams, or disputes between neighbors, rarely about people who shovel each other’s driveways or share meals across fences.  Over time, this steady stream of negativity feeds fear and mistrust. It can make us see strangers on our street as potential threats instead of potential friends. When our mental picture of “neighbor” is filtered through sensational headlines, we begin to equate safety with distance and privacy with peace. Social media adds another layer of distortion. Instead of walking next door to chat, people often connect online through neighborhood apps or Facebook groups, where tone and trust can easily be misunderstood.  A post about a “suspicious person” can spiral i...

From Author David Burton: I often get asked about my favorite books or articles on neighboring. The first book I read on this subject (in 2019) was "The Art of Neighboring" by Dave Runyon and Jay Pathak.  I have marked my favorites in bold.  I have also written reviews on many of these books and have linked the title to those reviews when available.  You will also find some fictional listings (marked) that teach good lessons about neighbors . If you want to know what else I am reading, my profile can be found on Good Reads  along with my extensive reading list. In 2025, I was among rated among the Top 5% on Good Reads for book reviews. LITERATURE REVIEW AND NEIGHBORING RESOURCES Aaron Smith, “Neighbors Online,” Pew Research Center, June 9, 2010. Abide Ohama. Neighbor Improvement effort in Ohama, Nebraska. https://www.abideomaha.org/programs Alexander, M. “The new Jim Crow.” The New Press. 2010.   Allen, Jennie. Find Your People: Building Deep Community in ...