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You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People
America is the greatest democracy in the world . . . isn't it? Author Elizabeth Rusch examines some of the more problematic aspects of our government but, more importantly, offers ways for young people to fix them.
The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a lack of representation in the polls and in our leadership have led to Americans of all ages asking, How did we get here?
The power to change lies with the citizens of this great country—especially teens! Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, You Call This Democracy? looks at flaws in the system—and offers a real way out of the mess we are in. Each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it’s undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change—starting NOW!
The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a lack of representation in the polls and in our leadership have led to Americans of all ages asking, How did we get here?
The power to change lies with the citizens of this great country—especially teens! Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, You Call This Democracy? looks at flaws in the system—and offers a real way out of the mess we are in. Each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it’s undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change—starting NOW!
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2020
41 people are currently reading
1254 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Rusch
31 books73 followersELIZABETH RUSCH is an award-winning book author, magazine writer, editor, writing teacher and speaker. Her wide-ranging passions include astronomy, volcanology, art, music, history, nature, waves, jokes, crayons, and mud — anything that catches her fancy. She is inspired by stories of exploration and discovery, stories that have been overlooked by history, and stories that grapple with persistent questions. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction for children or adults or teaching workshops, she hopes her work opens doors, opens minds, opens possibilities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 15, 2020
For any person, young or old, who would like to know about how the US government operates, this book is a wonderful tool.
Rusch explains the systems that perpetuate inequity in American 'democracy' in a format for young readers. However, this is not a dumbed down version of government. I'm making plans for an inquiry unit about the constitution, and this book would be a fantastic accompaniment.
I'm excited to share You Call This Democracy? With my students.
Highly recommend!
Rusch explains the systems that perpetuate inequity in American 'democracy' in a format for young readers. However, this is not a dumbed down version of government. I'm making plans for an inquiry unit about the constitution, and this book would be a fantastic accompaniment.
I'm excited to share You Call This Democracy? With my students.
Highly recommend!
April 15, 2020
I don't know what the premise of this book is but nobody is calling it a democracy. It's a constitutional republic. If you're going to write a book about it maybe you could be a little bit educated.
Also in the blurb, the word you were looking for was "affect" not "effect". When you affect change, you produce an effect.
If you are going to try to "educate the kids", please do a better job.
Also in the blurb, the word you were looking for was "affect" not "effect". When you affect change, you produce an effect.
If you are going to try to "educate the kids", please do a better job.
April 11, 2020
I'm in my 20s, and I loved this book! With it being 2020 and an election year (and after the disappointment of the 2016 election), I felt as though I needed to understand our democracy better and the ways in which individual citizens can really make a difference. This book did that and so much more! Each chapter explains a different aspect of democracy and ends with the ways that we can act to change things for the better. I found the book to be inspiring, and it made me hopeful for what we can do to solve the problems our nation currently faces. If you're a young adult looking to make a difference, or a parent or teacher looking to inspire a young adult, get this book!
April 5, 2020
Clear, concise, well-researched, current, non-partisan, and action-oriented. If you remember learning about democracy in school, this book will rock your world. That was fantasy. Read this to find out how to get our democracy back on track. Pick a project and let’s get to work.
May 3, 2020
Read my full review here: https://lifesanovelty.blogspot.com/20...
Star Rating: 4.5/5 rounded to 5/5
Opinions: You Call This Democracy? was a factual and purposeful introduction to democracy and the ins-and-outs of the United States government. It discusses everything teenagers will need to know when they turn 18 - the critical age for Americans. The basics and more are covered about what democracy means, voting traditions, gerrymandering, the debate about giving teenagers the right to vote, the impacts on and of voter turnout, and even more! You Call This Democracy? also provides advice on how to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. All in all, this is an educational and useful resource to learn the ways of the government, your rights, and how to use the information to improve the world. I completely recommend this to any teenager, American or otherwise, who needs to learn how they fit into America's system of government.
My Favourite Thing: Apart from the content, I love the style of the book! Rusch crammed a surprising amount of information into 288 pages, but it was laid out artistically so that teen readers are engaged and optimistic about learning. The pages are colorful, the charts are easy to understand, and the pictures and cartoons allow readers to assimilate the information in their own way. You Call This Democracy? is easy to read and influential because of the way the information is laid out. We can't just thank Rusch for collecting facts, we need to thank her for the way she displayed them.
My Least Favourite Thing: I appreciate that You Call This Democracy? is NOT one long anti-Trump campaign, but it did have subjective tones. Even the title questions the current state of government, which is not how all Americans view it. That said, this book is suited for older teenagers who can distinguish between factual and opinionated adjectives. Rusch provided balanced and evidence-based data but used her words to convey another message. It's not that hard to see what's fact and what's opinion, but you must be aware that both are present.
Star Rating: 4.5/5 rounded to 5/5
Opinions: You Call This Democracy? was a factual and purposeful introduction to democracy and the ins-and-outs of the United States government. It discusses everything teenagers will need to know when they turn 18 - the critical age for Americans. The basics and more are covered about what democracy means, voting traditions, gerrymandering, the debate about giving teenagers the right to vote, the impacts on and of voter turnout, and even more! You Call This Democracy? also provides advice on how to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. All in all, this is an educational and useful resource to learn the ways of the government, your rights, and how to use the information to improve the world. I completely recommend this to any teenager, American or otherwise, who needs to learn how they fit into America's system of government.
My Favourite Thing: Apart from the content, I love the style of the book! Rusch crammed a surprising amount of information into 288 pages, but it was laid out artistically so that teen readers are engaged and optimistic about learning. The pages are colorful, the charts are easy to understand, and the pictures and cartoons allow readers to assimilate the information in their own way. You Call This Democracy? is easy to read and influential because of the way the information is laid out. We can't just thank Rusch for collecting facts, we need to thank her for the way she displayed them.
My Least Favourite Thing: I appreciate that You Call This Democracy? is NOT one long anti-Trump campaign, but it did have subjective tones. Even the title questions the current state of government, which is not how all Americans view it. That said, this book is suited for older teenagers who can distinguish between factual and opinionated adjectives. Rusch provided balanced and evidence-based data but used her words to convey another message. It's not that hard to see what's fact and what's opinion, but you must be aware that both are present.
December 10, 2020
Read for Librarian Book Group
Outlines the many ways in which the current US setup of government falls short of democratic principles (and standards that we've encouraged other countries to adopt.) More importantly, it has ways for you (YOU!) to advocate for change.
This is a book that is written for teenagers, but which citizens of every age should read.
Outlines the many ways in which the current US setup of government falls short of democratic principles (and standards that we've encouraged other countries to adopt.) More importantly, it has ways for you (YOU!) to advocate for change.
This is a book that is written for teenagers, but which citizens of every age should read.
January 9, 2021
This is a good book to demonstrate the power of author's purpose and to identify author's bias. The book is clearly written for the purpose of persuading teen readers to take specific actions outlined by the author. The author is clearly in favor of changing the electoral vote to a popular vote, allowing former felons to vote, and lowering the voting age to 16 or 17, among other things.
The book fails to mention that the United States is the longest existing nation in the history of the world that has a constitutional government with officials elected by its citizens. We must be doing something right! But you wouldn't know it by reading this book. The book is missing key information such as the explanation that the United States is a representative democracy, a republic, and not a "pure" democracy, reasoning for the electoral college, and providing understanding for why policies are what they are and how they came to be. Understanding these concepts is critical before persuading teens to go out and change things.
Positives about the book are the informational graphics that illustrate concepts and statistics. The red, white, and blue pages and formatting are attractive and easy to read. The book clearly points out improvements that can be made to get more people involved in our governmental processes including our privilege, right, and responsibility to vote. This is a great book for critical reading and thoughtful discussion.
The book fails to mention that the United States is the longest existing nation in the history of the world that has a constitutional government with officials elected by its citizens. We must be doing something right! But you wouldn't know it by reading this book. The book is missing key information such as the explanation that the United States is a representative democracy, a republic, and not a "pure" democracy, reasoning for the electoral college, and providing understanding for why policies are what they are and how they came to be. Understanding these concepts is critical before persuading teens to go out and change things.
Positives about the book are the informational graphics that illustrate concepts and statistics. The red, white, and blue pages and formatting are attractive and easy to read. The book clearly points out improvements that can be made to get more people involved in our governmental processes including our privilege, right, and responsibility to vote. This is a great book for critical reading and thoughtful discussion.
September 30, 2023
I wish this book had existed in when I was in high school. Her explanation of why the electoral college is undemocratic/completely bonkers made me feel like less of an idiot for "never getting it" before.
March 18, 2021
This is a great book to read if you a.) want to understand more about the workings of our government and b.) want to know what needs to be changed to create a true democracy.
Instead of throwing long, hard-to-read texts at you, the book describes things in a very easy-to-understand way. There are several infographics used in the chapters, aiding in the reader's newfound understanding of the topic.
My favorite part of the book had to be the little "how you can help" sections. I enjoyed finding ways that I can get involved in my own local government if there are things I do not agree with and would like to see changed.
I might even purchase my own copy of the book. It was just a great informational read. I really, really enjoyed it.
With all of that being said, I highly recommend giving it a read!
Instead of throwing long, hard-to-read texts at you, the book describes things in a very easy-to-understand way. There are several infographics used in the chapters, aiding in the reader's newfound understanding of the topic.
My favorite part of the book had to be the little "how you can help" sections. I enjoyed finding ways that I can get involved in my own local government if there are things I do not agree with and would like to see changed.
I might even purchase my own copy of the book. It was just a great informational read. I really, really enjoyed it.
With all of that being said, I highly recommend giving it a read!
July 21, 2021
This is certainly a distorted view of our country’s politics. Make a book flashy and fun and you’ve got a winner of a book. Not! But I certainly have a better understanding of the misleading arguments being feed to our youth about. Protesting sure sounds a lot better if you call it Activism. Not telling the history of the whys of the electoral college or even how the Senate is not meant to be another version of the House. Comparing US statistics to other countries when our governments are not the same. In reality, it’s apples to oranges. But the part I give myself credit for - I did finish it.
August 31, 2020
The title is very misleading. First off, the United States is not a democracy, it is a democratic republic, therefore operates differently than a true democracy. Second, this book is NOT about fixing our government, it is about election reform... related, but different topics.
October 16, 2021
Great information and resources for middle school/high school students. I highly recommend this book to kids interested in government or social activism but I think all kids would benefit from reading it.
March 10, 2021
In an in-depth look at the U.S. government with info-graphs, charts and information on how to make a difference.
December 2, 2025
"If average Americans are influencing lawmakers, who is? Rich donors and corporations, that's who."
"When asked to compare our political system to those in similar countries, only about a quarter of Americans rate it "above average" and only 15 percent consider it the "best in the world."
Much of this dissatisfaction comes from our government's failure to address the challenges people face. Millions struggle to pay for the most expensive health care in the world. Many skip the medical care or perscriptions they desperately need. Forty percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, unable to cover an emergency expense of just $400. About 40 million Americans live in poverty- including 15 million children."
"Today's gerrymandered voting districts are equally outrageous. Many resemble blood splatters, horseshoes, cartoon characters, and bizarre tentacled monsters. The maps would be funny if they weren't so damaging to our democracy."
"The racial implications of voter suppression cannot be ignored. Our nation has a history of racist voting restrictions, including property requirements, literacy tests, poll taxes, and violence and intimidation that have kept people of color from the ballot box. Is it possible that these newer voter suppression initiatives are more of the same?" Yes.
"Research suggests diversity leads to better decision-making."
"When asked to compare our political system to those in similar countries, only about a quarter of Americans rate it "above average" and only 15 percent consider it the "best in the world."
Much of this dissatisfaction comes from our government's failure to address the challenges people face. Millions struggle to pay for the most expensive health care in the world. Many skip the medical care or perscriptions they desperately need. Forty percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, unable to cover an emergency expense of just $400. About 40 million Americans live in poverty- including 15 million children."
"Today's gerrymandered voting districts are equally outrageous. Many resemble blood splatters, horseshoes, cartoon characters, and bizarre tentacled monsters. The maps would be funny if they weren't so damaging to our democracy."
"The racial implications of voter suppression cannot be ignored. Our nation has a history of racist voting restrictions, including property requirements, literacy tests, poll taxes, and violence and intimidation that have kept people of color from the ballot box. Is it possible that these newer voter suppression initiatives are more of the same?" Yes.
"Research suggests diversity leads to better decision-making."
July 3, 2021
What can we do to protect our Democracy? Rusch offers an intro into the history of political structures in the US and how they maintain power differentials between populations today. Addresses systemic inequities and injustices with guidance for teens on what they can do about it now. Clear examples, definitions, and exercises illustrate concepts in an engaging way, and every chapter includes current resources to help teens take concrete action toward a Democracy designed to serve all.
April 6, 2022
During the reading period of our ELA class, we had to choose a book that was Non-Fiction. The book I had chosen came from my local library in school. The Non-Fiction book I had chosen is called “ YOU CALL THIS A DEMOCRACY? '' Written by Elizabeth Rusch. Throughout the book Elizabeth establishes many thoughts and facts about our government such as Gerrymandering, how many votes go where, whose votes matter, and the result of a corrupted and unfair election.
The book was written to show the readers how the government works. While reading it was clear and well thought out that our government was created for all people or was it? Elizabeth shows a graph in the book that shows the amount of people's votes don’t matter as much as the people in the congress’s votes do. Gerrymandering has a huge part to play. The amount of votes brought in can make no difference against the electoral vote. During the election process between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Hillary won the popular votes and lost the electoral votes. As for Trump he won because the electoral votes mattered more than the popular votes. If the people's votes mattered, Hillary would have won the election.
Learning the new things it is clear to anyone who can read this without any knowledge about the government you will learn so much just on one page. That is what it felt like to me, on every page without a doubt there was something to learn. My favorite part of the book was how the electoral votes matter more than the population's votes. The reason it was my favorite is because it was something that I did not know in the beginning.
If you are interested in the government or having things proven wrong this book is for you. You will not regret reading this book whether you know how the government works or not. Reading this book has opened my mind to new meaning and explanation of the government. If you think you know about the government give this a read you will learn more.
The book was written to show the readers how the government works. While reading it was clear and well thought out that our government was created for all people or was it? Elizabeth shows a graph in the book that shows the amount of people's votes don’t matter as much as the people in the congress’s votes do. Gerrymandering has a huge part to play. The amount of votes brought in can make no difference against the electoral vote. During the election process between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Hillary won the popular votes and lost the electoral votes. As for Trump he won because the electoral votes mattered more than the popular votes. If the people's votes mattered, Hillary would have won the election.
Learning the new things it is clear to anyone who can read this without any knowledge about the government you will learn so much just on one page. That is what it felt like to me, on every page without a doubt there was something to learn. My favorite part of the book was how the electoral votes matter more than the population's votes. The reason it was my favorite is because it was something that I did not know in the beginning.
If you are interested in the government or having things proven wrong this book is for you. You will not regret reading this book whether you know how the government works or not. Reading this book has opened my mind to new meaning and explanation of the government. If you think you know about the government give this a read you will learn more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2021
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you!
Do I agree with everything written in this book? No. Do I agree with some of what is written? Absolutely.
Information is well presented with simple, clear language. It also incorporates several infographics to visually demonstrate disparities and/or the author’s message in a particular section.
Thought-provoking and well organized, each chapter includes a description of a challenge, including its history, bipartisan viewpoints of it, and a call to action with ideas of steps an individual citizen can take to affect change on that particular issue.
While I have many questions that bear further research, and don’t whole heartedly agree with everything the author writes, this is a valuable book for every citizen to read to get a better understanding of how our system works and how to take a more proactive role in our political process. It’s also a good starting point to develop critical thinking skills as it’s up to each of us to form our own opinions on issues important to us and their solutions.
Some pieces of information in the book have undoubtedly been changed by the historic year that 2020 became, with changes to election processes necessitated by the global pandemic, the largest voter turn out we’ve ever had, the first female Vice President, and much more. I look forward to seeing how our system continues to evolve.
Do I agree with everything written in this book? No. Do I agree with some of what is written? Absolutely.
Information is well presented with simple, clear language. It also incorporates several infographics to visually demonstrate disparities and/or the author’s message in a particular section.
Thought-provoking and well organized, each chapter includes a description of a challenge, including its history, bipartisan viewpoints of it, and a call to action with ideas of steps an individual citizen can take to affect change on that particular issue.
While I have many questions that bear further research, and don’t whole heartedly agree with everything the author writes, this is a valuable book for every citizen to read to get a better understanding of how our system works and how to take a more proactive role in our political process. It’s also a good starting point to develop critical thinking skills as it’s up to each of us to form our own opinions on issues important to us and their solutions.
Some pieces of information in the book have undoubtedly been changed by the historic year that 2020 became, with changes to election processes necessitated by the global pandemic, the largest voter turn out we’ve ever had, the first female Vice President, and much more. I look forward to seeing how our system continues to evolve.
July 21, 2021
I thought the book was fascinating…there is much food for thought here. I’ve been civically engaged my entire life so I went into this thinking I might not learn much and it might be just a “tips and tricks” approach to get young people interested in politics. What I found was that the book is really a deep dive into every element of the political process. It is packed with research and documentation – on multiple sides of every issue. I am going to avoid using the word “both” because the book makes it clear that the issues with U.S. politics extend far beyond simply Left and Right/Democrat and Republican. Rusch takes deep dives into issues of gerrymandering, election financing, voter suppression, voter age, representation of women and minorities in the political sphere…and the list goes on. My one hope is that Rausch publishes an “addendum” of sorts to include the process, fallout and results of the most recent general election…I would be interested in reading her non-partisan take and the research that supports it. I’m not sure if the book would be interesting to someone who isn’t interested in politics, but it is definitely a “must read” for those who are. Taking that one step further, I think it would be an excellent teaching tool and/or “ancillary read” for teachers and students in government classes. This is another book that I will be purchasing to have on hand for students in my classroom.
September 4, 2020
Elizabeth Rusch has created a wonderful guide to our political system and where it can use an update. Each chapter addresses a different aspect in need of reform such as the way voting districts are drawn, how voter registration is handled, or the influence of large campaign donations by special-interest groups and corporations. Real-life examples of problems are given for each topic. Readers can learn the details of how a woman was stricken from the voter registration list after her home was incorrectly listed as a vacant lot, or how women who run for office are asked questions about their hair or clothes rather than their political views.
Each chapter ends with suggestions on how readers may get involved and work to solve the problems. There are also plenty of infographics to illustrate the disparity between the number of women in our country versus the number of women in office and other statistics. A list for further reading in the back matter includes both books and websites, and there are extensive source notes.
Anyone wishing to learn more about election reform and the groups trying to move us from a democratic republic to a true democracy could learn quite a bit from this book. The companion website offers even more information and ways to get involved. Readers can even check to see how their own state scores on the various issues.
Each chapter ends with suggestions on how readers may get involved and work to solve the problems. There are also plenty of infographics to illustrate the disparity between the number of women in our country versus the number of women in office and other statistics. A list for further reading in the back matter includes both books and websites, and there are extensive source notes.
Anyone wishing to learn more about election reform and the groups trying to move us from a democratic republic to a true democracy could learn quite a bit from this book. The companion website offers even more information and ways to get involved. Readers can even check to see how their own state scores on the various issues.
February 12, 2021
You Call This Democracy? How to Fix our Government and Deliver Power to the People by Elizabeth Rusch, narrated by Christina Moore. A 2021 YALSA Nonfiction Finalist. Written for high school and College students who are interested in politics or want to change the way things are done, this book discusses how students are affected by voting laws and elections. Rusch covers everything from gerrymandering to voter suppression to how bills are actually passed. Along the way she shares real life examples of change, facts and figures and advises readers on what they can do or where they can go for assistance. Interested teens will find things such as directions on how to talk with your representative or your local government has more power than you think extremely helpful. While narrated very well, the book layout does not transfer well to audio. There were many times it felt like the narrator was interrupted with sidebars which disrupted the flow of the text. The author supports her book with a discussion guide for educators and a website which contains videos, facts and additional information. A must have for all middle and high school libraries.
March 8, 2021
Is our democracy really one person, one vote, with everybody equal? Despite our ideals, this is actually far from the truth. This goes through the various specific ways our democracy falls short, depriving people of their voice and keeping our supposedly representative government from actually functioning in a representative manner: everything from the Senate overly privileging smaller, rural states, to the filibuster, to dark money, to lies in political advertising by unknown groups, to gerrymandering to the Electoral College and more. This clearly goes over the problems with each, how they specifically distort and degrade our democracy, states a reasonable and doable improvement to fix it, and calls for action. Reading this straight through is depressing, but hopefully passionate teens will find these calls to action empowering. I could even see a government teacher using this as a springboard to a class assignment with real-world impact. Give this to adults too, so they can advocate for these changes peacefully, rather than violently storm the capital.
April 11, 2021
I want to start off by saying this book is very partisan to the left. I saw a few reviews saying this is non-partisan and it is clearly not. It discusses a lot of the policies the Democratic Party campaigns for.
One of the biggest issues I had with this book is America isn’t a democracy. It is a representative republic. Our country was setup to have representatives that represent Americans. A lot of the things the author discusses, such as the electoral college, were put in place to prevent pure mob rule, which is what the author is advocating for through the book. I wish the author would have discussed this more and talked more about why certain policies are in place, rather than only discussing the bad parts of them.
The author did do a good job of connecting readers to resources throughout the book. If there is an issue the author discusses, you are given plenty of resources right in the text on what your part can be in making those changes happen. I like how the author puts the ball in the readers court instead of just lecturing on her soap box.
One of the biggest issues I had with this book is America isn’t a democracy. It is a representative republic. Our country was setup to have representatives that represent Americans. A lot of the things the author discusses, such as the electoral college, were put in place to prevent pure mob rule, which is what the author is advocating for through the book. I wish the author would have discussed this more and talked more about why certain policies are in place, rather than only discussing the bad parts of them.
The author did do a good job of connecting readers to resources throughout the book. If there is an issue the author discusses, you are given plenty of resources right in the text on what your part can be in making those changes happen. I like how the author puts the ball in the readers court instead of just lecturing on her soap box.
July 4, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised by how in depth this title was. I certainly would recommend it for adults who need to learn or need a refresher on how our government and society work, and realistic improvements that could be made. After January 6, I would love to see this as a textbook in high schools and community colleges, and introductory classes in General Ed requirements in colleges. I would imagine the author is frustrated at the moment since one party is doing the opposite of most of her suggestions. She tries hard to be nonpartisan here, quoting both parties equally. She talks about such issues as the electoral college, “spectator states”, suppressing the vote, possible statehood for DC and Puerto Rico, and many more topics including the concept of lowering the voting age to 16, which I had not thought about before. She points out many of these youth work and pay taxes, yet cannot vote: taxation without representation! In short this was a superb book, that is badly needed! Highly recommended!
Want to read
November 7, 2021Publisher's Description: America is the greatest democracy in the world . . . isn't it? Author Elizabeth Rusch examines some of the more problematic aspects of our government but, more importantly, offers ways for young people to fix them. The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a lack of representation in the polls and in our leadership have led to Americans of all ages asking, How did we get here? The power to change lies with the citizens of this great country, especially teens! Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, You Call This Democracy? looks at flaws in the system and offers a real way out of the mess we are in. Each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it's undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change, starting NOW!
January 21, 2022
My son brought this home because he wanted to brush up on his political knowledge. We looked through it together and found it to be an exceptionally partisan, biased take. The positive takeaway is that this led to a lot of great discussion with my boy. We talked about why it's racist to assume that black Americans cannot get ID. We talked about why it's evil for half of the country to exert their will over the other half under threat of violence. While this book advocates for voting for people based purely on their skin color, gender identity, or orientation, we talked about Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream that people will be judged by the "content of their character." And speaking of democracy generally, we talked about how "democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch." Mob rule is no way to run a government.
This book can lead to some great discussion, but it's more of a DNC propaganda piece than an educational tool. If your child reads it, make sure you also read it so you can discuss the content.
This book can lead to some great discussion, but it's more of a DNC propaganda piece than an educational tool. If your child reads it, make sure you also read it so you can discuss the content.
January 25, 2023
My Thoughts
This book uses a combination of detailed, straightforward, and more importantly, non-partisan (almost) narrative along with eye-catching infographics and illustrations to cover the basics of what our democracy means (here in the US) and more.
Each chapter does a deep dive into a specific issue/topic that impacts our government (from its inception to its functioning); including the basics, the electoral college, gerrymandering, voting rights and traditions, voter turnout and its impact, and so much more! Rusch offers a rich array of resources (lists of websites, organizations, and suggested activities) that build upon the issues discussed in each chapter.
In Summary
Overall, an excellent resource that will appeal to its target audience and engage even adults. It will help each of us take action towards building a better future, for ourselves, and others after us.
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy, I reviewed this with a personal copy received around the same time from the publishers.
This book uses a combination of detailed, straightforward, and more importantly, non-partisan (almost) narrative along with eye-catching infographics and illustrations to cover the basics of what our democracy means (here in the US) and more.
Each chapter does a deep dive into a specific issue/topic that impacts our government (from its inception to its functioning); including the basics, the electoral college, gerrymandering, voting rights and traditions, voter turnout and its impact, and so much more! Rusch offers a rich array of resources (lists of websites, organizations, and suggested activities) that build upon the issues discussed in each chapter.
In Summary
Overall, an excellent resource that will appeal to its target audience and engage even adults. It will help each of us take action towards building a better future, for ourselves, and others after us.
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy, I reviewed this with a personal copy received around the same time from the publishers.
August 29, 2024
This book has several fatal flaws:
1. Rather than engaging with the issues in a thoughtful and analytical way, the author resorts to a recitation of tired talking points.
2. The author rests her criticisms of American institutions on modern left-wing, anti-American tropes instead of discussing them in an historically accurate way.
3. The author cites academic and public opinion research in a selective way that fits her narrative instead of in a robust and nuanced way. For example, she cites research that claims public policy is responsive only to economic elites (as an argument to get money out of politics) but ignores a much more robust and convincing line of research that demonstrates policy is responsive to mass public opinion. She also cites poll results that agree with her position (e.g., on abolishing the Electoral College) but ignores the polls in which an overwhelming majority of Americans disagree with her (e.g., on voter ID).
In the end, this book is nothing more than a 253-page leftist wishlist of reforms to supposedly fix American democracy.
1. Rather than engaging with the issues in a thoughtful and analytical way, the author resorts to a recitation of tired talking points.
2. The author rests her criticisms of American institutions on modern left-wing, anti-American tropes instead of discussing them in an historically accurate way.
3. The author cites academic and public opinion research in a selective way that fits her narrative instead of in a robust and nuanced way. For example, she cites research that claims public policy is responsive only to economic elites (as an argument to get money out of politics) but ignores a much more robust and convincing line of research that demonstrates policy is responsive to mass public opinion. She also cites poll results that agree with her position (e.g., on abolishing the Electoral College) but ignores the polls in which an overwhelming majority of Americans disagree with her (e.g., on voter ID).
In the end, this book is nothing more than a 253-page leftist wishlist of reforms to supposedly fix American democracy.
July 12, 2022
I picked this up on a whim from the junior non fiction section of the library based on the provocative title - I am glad I did! I can’t say that there are any new concepts in here to me (gerrymandering, filibuster, voter suppression), though Rusch explains the issue very clearly and with some nice graphics sprinkled in. It felt very non-partisan and seemed to adequately cover the major issues and provide solutions. One topic not covered was any ideas about expanding from our two party system, oddly. Other than that, I appreciated the education from this book and recommend it to anyone interested in our political system.
September 12, 2020
A non-partisan guide to civic engagement and action. Covers the movement for a national popular vote (instead of the electoral college), gerrymandering, congressional representation reform, campaign finance reform, free speech vs. the right to lie, voter ID requirements, citizens without states’ rights and full representation, the way our criminal justice system leads to voter suppression, expanding teen voting rights, getting more representative representation, and other ways to encourage voting.
Makes political action accessible for kids and adults alike.
Makes political action accessible for kids and adults alike.
December 12, 2020
Even though this book is geared toward high schoolers and college-age young adults, I felt like I still learned a lot. I love how the book is laid out and that each chapter includes resources for how the reader can get involved. It's hard to pinpoint which issue covered in the book I feel the most strongly about, as all of them are a hindrance to an effectively run government. But hopefully, this book will inspire and empower the next generation (and those in my own generation) to call for change.
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