Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #150900 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

From Booklist
Conrad’s father is the senior Democratic senator of North Dakota, and her uncle is the Republican U.S. agricultural secretary and former governor of North Dakota. Still, she manages to be nonpartisan in this very helpful guide to American politics. She highlights the foibles of both parties when explaining campaign financing, special interest groups, and voting irregularities. Conrad gives readers the essentials on elections, the economy, foreign policy, the military, civil liberties, and other issues. She details all the elements that go into a presidential election, from primaries and caucuses to pledged delegates and superdelegates, and why more Americans need to pay attention to the mechanics of elections before things go wrong. She begins with a brief background of current debates on issues from abortion and the right to die (under the topic “Culture Wars”) to highway privatization and FEMA (under “Homeland Security”).This is an essential resource for Americans of whatever political persuasion, including independents, libertarians, progressives, and populists, all of which she defines and explains. --Vanessa Bush

About the Author
Jessamyn Conrad earned her bachelorÕs degree in social anthropology and Islamic art history from Harvard University and her masterÕs degree in history from Cambridge University. She is pursuing her doctorate in art history at Columbia University. She is 30 years old, and lives in New York City.

Jessamyn Conrad earned her bachelor's degree in social anthropology and Islamic art history from Harvard University and her master's degree in history from Cambridge University. She is pursuing her doctorate in art history at Columbia University. She is 30 years old, and lives in New York City.