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Generation Citizen: The Power of Youth in Our Politics
Championing the activism of young people around the world, Generation Citizen is an empowering reminder of the positive power of politics, and an inspiring, actionable guide for anyone ready to fight for democracy.
America is at a crossroads. We are alienated from civic engagement, and our democracy is in doubt. Yet there is a new energy in the air. Young people are again taking up the role they’ve often held: as leaders of change, demanding a better future, wielding their votes to uphold democracy and lead the country forward.
Enter Generation Citizen, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through revitalizing civics education across America. Since its beginnings in 2009 during CEO and cofounder Scott Warren’s senior year at Brown, Generation Citizen has grown to become one of the preeminent civics education organizations in the country.
Generation Citizen: The Power of Youth in Our Politics details Warren’s political awakening alongside stories of how young people have always been the instruments of political change. Generation Citizen is also a practical guide, providing concrete steps to jumpstart an engagement with politics and rekindle our love of democracy. Through interviews with students and historical portraits of young people who have enacted great political change—from the civil rights movement to the election of Ronald Reagan to #BlackLivesMatter and the Parkland students’ standing up to gun violence—Generation Citizen shows that time and again, it is the young people who lead the way to change.
America is at a crossroads. We are alienated from civic engagement, and our democracy is in doubt. Yet there is a new energy in the air. Young people are again taking up the role they’ve often held: as leaders of change, demanding a better future, wielding their votes to uphold democracy and lead the country forward.
Enter Generation Citizen, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through revitalizing civics education across America. Since its beginnings in 2009 during CEO and cofounder Scott Warren’s senior year at Brown, Generation Citizen has grown to become one of the preeminent civics education organizations in the country.
Generation Citizen: The Power of Youth in Our Politics details Warren’s political awakening alongside stories of how young people have always been the instruments of political change. Generation Citizen is also a practical guide, providing concrete steps to jumpstart an engagement with politics and rekindle our love of democracy. Through interviews with students and historical portraits of young people who have enacted great political change—from the civil rights movement to the election of Ronald Reagan to #BlackLivesMatter and the Parkland students’ standing up to gun violence—Generation Citizen shows that time and again, it is the young people who lead the way to change.
- GenresNonfiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2019
4 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Scott Warren
37 books20 followersMore than one author on Goodreads is named Scott Warren.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 15, 2019
Generation Citizen is a call to substantive political action in America and a defense of young people leading the charge for change. It isn't always clear who the audience of the book is intended to be, but it contains inspiring stories and practical steps toward political activism. While this is definitely a left-leaning book, it does try to be non-partisan and offers a much more balanced portrayal of conservatives than many books of its kind are doing these days. I think it is well worth reading and applaud the work that the author is doing in championing civics education in middle schools and high schools around the country.
The book is very readable with a blend of compelling stories, theory, and tips for practical application. I will say, I don't think it's clear if the intended audience for the book is teenagers, college students, or older adults. It feels as if this switches frequently, which can be a bit whiplash inducing. I think this could be a powerful and important book for teenagers to read, but if that is the goal I don't think the marketing is entirely successful. After the first several chapters I was less bothered by this and just got into the flow of the narrative.
Overall, I think this is worth reading and it is inspiring, if sometimes overwhelming. I was sent a review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The book is very readable with a blend of compelling stories, theory, and tips for practical application. I will say, I don't think it's clear if the intended audience for the book is teenagers, college students, or older adults. It feels as if this switches frequently, which can be a bit whiplash inducing. I think this could be a powerful and important book for teenagers to read, but if that is the goal I don't think the marketing is entirely successful. After the first several chapters I was less bothered by this and just got into the flow of the narrative.
Overall, I think this is worth reading and it is inspiring, if sometimes overwhelming. I was sent a review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2020
Read this as a potential common book for my University. I think it's an excellent book, with some real concrete information and steps that young folks can take in order to engage with their government and increase their civic participation, and I liked how the author was both open about being a Democrat but also highlighted non-Democrat activism and civic engagement, as that makes it more easily accessible by a wide audience. I don't know if I'll be pushing this one too much as a common book, though; while I think it would be really good for our students to read it, I think it would be better as the core textbook in a semester long course, so that students could read a section of it together, and then enact the steps, and then do it again with the next strategy. Our common book is read over the summer, and I'm not sure if it would be as good a read without some immediate structure to it. I'm looking forward to when the rest of the committee has read it and can chime in.
Separate from the committee, however, I did like this book; at times I thought the author focused a little too much on himself and his own journey, simply because I thought the core of the book, the best part of the book, was the step-by-step in getting involved in civic engagement. That part was useful to me, even, as a full grown adult. I'll definitely be recommending this to my friends who have teenaged kids.
Separate from the committee, however, I did like this book; at times I thought the author focused a little too much on himself and his own journey, simply because I thought the core of the book, the best part of the book, was the step-by-step in getting involved in civic engagement. That part was useful to me, even, as a full grown adult. I'll definitely be recommending this to my friends who have teenaged kids.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews