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Loading... America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (edition 2004)by Jon Stewart (Author)
Work InformationAmerica (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. While humorous, there are some very cringe-worthy moments in this book. Mostly the overemphasis on using r*tard as an insult, and accusing people they don't like of being "secretly gay" (as we know, the worst possible insult to a straight). It just got tiring. It does give a succinct look at American Democracy, from the different branches of government to the history of the nation. The book helps explain the functions of the executive branch, the checks and balances of the Senate and Congress, and the judicial branch. There is a brief look at the possible future of America. The final chapter consists of infographics covering the rest of the world, and why, in the writers' opinions, it's not worth going. Even though the book is now dated, being from 2004, there are still some poignant facts through the haze of rude punch-downs and occasional poorly executed jokes. Still worth a read, I think. I do like how the whole book is laid out like a classic school textbook.
Stewart and his co-authors (there are 18 of them!) have few illusions about transforming the American electorate with this instructional tome. But they aren't altogether pessimistic: "Even if there isn't a Jefferson or Hamilton among you," they conclude, "if you just smash together the basic ideas of this book you're bound to wind up with something better than North Korea."
Offers tongue-in-cheek insight into American democracy with coverage of such topics as the republican qualities of ancient Rome, the antics of our nation's founders, and the ludicrous nature of today's media. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)818.5407Literature English (North America) Authors, American and American miscellany 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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What a wit. Found myself giggling on almost every page. Fun read. ( )