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Its a very exciting time in American politics. Voter turnout in primaries and caucuses across the nation have shattered old records. More than ever, in this election year people are paying attention to the issues. But in a world of sound bites and deliberate misinformation and a political scene that is literally colored by a partisan divide--blue vs. red--how does the average educated American find a reliable source that's free of political spin?
What You Should Know About Politics . . . But Don't breaks it all down, issue by issue, explaining who stands for what, and why--whether it's the economy, the war in Iraq, health care, oil and renewable energy sources, or climate change. If you're a Democrat, a Republican, or somewhere in between, it's the perfect book to brush up on a single topic or read through to get a deeper understanding of the often-mucky world of American politics.
Polls have shown that interest in the presidential campaign traditionally peaks 3-6 weeks before the elections. But this is also a book that transcends the season. It's truly for anyone who wants to know more about the issues, which are perennial issues that will continue to affect our everyday lives.
Non-non-partisanReviewed by JosERW, 2009-09-23
While the book was informative in regards to the "issues" there is an OBVIOUS left-wing slant. If you're looking for a non-partisan guide to politics, look elsewhere.
Politics 101Reviewed by Jon L. Thompson, 2009-09-21
If you are confused about politics or even want a refresher on the basics, then this is the perfect book for you. Each political topic is thoroughly explained while not going too far over your head. The non-partisan approach maintains itself throughout the whole book and provides arguments from both sides and why they are relevant. I wish everyone would read this book.
everyone should know...Reviewed by Amanda Junce, 2009-04-06
This day and age, everyone should know at least a little bit about the political parties and basic political platforms. "What You Should Know About Politics... But Don't," is a good source of information that many people will find useful. If you're really into politics and already know a lot, this book won't be the best for you.
A great primerReviewed by Book Reviewer, 2009-03-26
If you need to brush up on the basics, or want to start building a foundation for understanding politics in the United States, this book will help you understand the two major parties and where they tend to position themselves on different issues.
Politics for DummiesReviewed by Clark Bjorke, 2008-12-14
Let me say first, that there was not a lot of new information in
this book and I found the title only slightly less offensive than
the "for dummies" series of books, which I refuse to consult on
principle. I've read over a couple of them, meh. It went downhill
from there.
The book starts off talking about elections and explains about
voting districts and political parties and the electoral college.
Then it gets into voter suppression and fraud, gerrymandering
campaign finance and the trouble with electronic voting machines.
The following chapters take on a long list of hot button issues:
recession. stagflation, the mortgage crisis, isolationism, health
care, homeland security, no child left behind, all the while
maintaining a neutral non partisan tone, the News Hour with Jim
Lerher, on Prozac. "Some believe that torture is inherently morally
repugnant and is never justifiable. Others think there may be some
very restricted circumstances in which torture is morally
acceptable, while still others contend that those conditions are
broader."
Some people bend over backwards to not have an opinion, too, and
Jessamyn Conrad is one of them. Some people think torture is
sometimes OK? Let's put it out there, Jessamyn. The Bush
Administration denies that it ever tortured anyone and if it did,
then they must have deserved it. And besides, if the President does
it, it's legal.
I became weary of the neutrality. None of the burning issues of the
day have any relevance weight, meaning or value in this book, just
on the one hand and on the other.
The publisher got blurbs from Barack Obama and Bob Dole for the
front cover. I guess John McCain was too busy to answer the email.
