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Politics for Dummies
Whether you understand politics or not, it still affects your life in very real ways. But American politics can be confusing. What’s a caucus? How do primaries work? How can you sift through all the babble to get to the truth? Politics For Dummies offers all these answers and more. And it’s not just for political novices; even those with a firm understanding of politics can use this book to fill out their knowledge of the little complexities – from how the Electoral College works to campaign contribution limits. If you have little or no knowledge of politics, don’t worry. Most people need answers just like you do, that’s why this book helps This simple, friendly guide offers the kind of straight talk on politics you won’t get from a politician. It covers the nuts and bolts of the political process so you’ll have a working knowledge of the system. It shows you how to get involved at the grass-roots level and explains the rationale behind the two-party system. It helps you parse the propaganda to get at the truth and offers a complete explanation of presidential politics. Politics For Dummies covers these topics and many You’ll also find fun and helpful extras like famous political quotes, the ten things you should teach your children about politics, and voting requirements for every state. Democracy won’t work for if you don’t participate in it. So pick up Politics For Dummies , get informed, and get involved. Your country will thank you!
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 1995
59 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 22, 2025
Publilius *(Publius) gathered together a collection of “maxims” among which was #865: “Better be ignorant of a matter than half know it.”
Given that I have been patted on the back, at times, for being politically engaged, I think I had better check whether what “I know” is both “enough” and what it is that I thought I knew, but have been getting wrong. Thus, I will take my time with this book and report on the results.
"Here’s just a sample of the many things that politics determines:
Who serves in office and for how long The policies our governments enact
Who wins and who loses when groups compete for resources or favorable legislation
Who pays taxes, how much, and what kind
Whether a landfill opens near your neighborhood despite your concerns about having potentially toxic waste close to where your children play
What your children are taught in school, what tests they take, and what scores they must achieve to graduate
How much you pay to send your children to a state-supported college and whether student loans are available to help you pay the cost
When your garbage is collected and what items are accepted
From the sublime to the ridiculous, politics is everywhere! Regardless of how you define it, politics is the glue keeping our entire society together and determining the relationships of all the members of that society. You can’t avoid politics. You can refuse to participate in the process by not registering or voting, but the process will still affect you and your family every day of your lives, in ways you know and in ways you can’t imagine."
I liked the way this book was divided into "bite-sized" pieces. No problem looking up a particular aspect or just reading for a limited amount at a time.
Very useful.
Given that I have been patted on the back, at times, for being politically engaged, I think I had better check whether what “I know” is both “enough” and what it is that I thought I knew, but have been getting wrong. Thus, I will take my time with this book and report on the results.
"Here’s just a sample of the many things that politics determines:
Who serves in office and for how long The policies our governments enact
Who wins and who loses when groups compete for resources or favorable legislation
Who pays taxes, how much, and what kind
Whether a landfill opens near your neighborhood despite your concerns about having potentially toxic waste close to where your children play
What your children are taught in school, what tests they take, and what scores they must achieve to graduate
How much you pay to send your children to a state-supported college and whether student loans are available to help you pay the cost
When your garbage is collected and what items are accepted
From the sublime to the ridiculous, politics is everywhere! Regardless of how you define it, politics is the glue keeping our entire society together and determining the relationships of all the members of that society. You can’t avoid politics. You can refuse to participate in the process by not registering or voting, but the process will still affect you and your family every day of your lives, in ways you know and in ways you can’t imagine."
I liked the way this book was divided into "bite-sized" pieces. No problem looking up a particular aspect or just reading for a limited amount at a time.
Very useful.
September 6, 2014
It seems weird to say this about a "Dummies" book, but this book seriously changed my life. Very well written and exactly what I was looking for to fill in all the blanks that I didn't understand about politics. It was very un-biased. It even gave me real insight into the two party system, the differences between them, and reasons to belong to either or reasons to be an independent.
March 17, 2023
"Politics for Dummies" by Ann DeLaney is a comprehensive and well-written guide for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the American political system. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the history of American politics, the structure of the government, the role of political parties, and the basics of campaigning and elections.
One of the best aspects of the book is its accessibility. DeLaney does an excellent job of explaining complex political concepts in simple, straightforward language that is easy to understand. This makes the book an excellent resource for anyone who is new to politics and wants to learn the basics.
The book is also well-organized and easy to navigate. Each chapter covers a specific topic, and the information is presented in a logical and easy-to-follow manner. The book is also filled with helpful graphics, charts, and tables that help to illustrate key concepts.
Another great feature of "Politics for Dummies" is its objectivity. DeLaney presents the information in a non-partisan manner, which allows readers to develop their own opinions and perspectives without being swayed by political bias.
Overall, "Politics for Dummies" is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of American politics. It is well-written, well-organized, and easy to understand, making it an essential read for anyone who wants to become a more informed citizen.
One of the best aspects of the book is its accessibility. DeLaney does an excellent job of explaining complex political concepts in simple, straightforward language that is easy to understand. This makes the book an excellent resource for anyone who is new to politics and wants to learn the basics.
The book is also well-organized and easy to navigate. Each chapter covers a specific topic, and the information is presented in a logical and easy-to-follow manner. The book is also filled with helpful graphics, charts, and tables that help to illustrate key concepts.
Another great feature of "Politics for Dummies" is its objectivity. DeLaney presents the information in a non-partisan manner, which allows readers to develop their own opinions and perspectives without being swayed by political bias.
Overall, "Politics for Dummies" is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of American politics. It is well-written, well-organized, and easy to understand, making it an essential read for anyone who wants to become a more informed citizen.
August 22, 2025
A great book that I read and re-read. I believe that even the most politically-versed citizen could find this book very useful. This book offers explanations and great examples that could be read also as nuggets of American history.
I’ll be using this book as a reference from now on.
I’ll be using this book as a reference from now on.
December 17, 2022
Very slow and drawn out
October 2, 2023
Really basic. Good for new to the US people who need to know how the government works. If you read newspapers and took a civics course in high school, skip this book—too basic. Really badly written.
February 18, 2024
A little more info than what I was after but the info was a good refresher. 👍
February 5, 2025
This is a great book to have around, especially as a reference resource. Unfortunately, I was familiar with most of the topics, that's not to say I didn't learn anything.
Want to read
May 29, 2008What can I say...it's an election year and I must have zoned out back in high school civics class. I need a refresher!
most-wanted
October 3, 2008Because I'm lost most of the time ...
February 12, 2009
FAIR OVERVIEW--THINGS ARE DIFFERENT SINCE THE 2008 ELECTION!!
August 4, 2013
Since I hardly knew anything about politics before reading this book, it was very informative!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews