This book was written for teens, but I would recommend for anyone that wants to learn more about
our political system in the USA. The book has an opinion bias, but overall it is a well done book that helps to inform the electorate of their rights, privileges, and responsibilities!

I've never been much of a political person and my understanding of our government was pretty limited, informed as much by School House Rock as it was by actual school lessons. I'm prone to avoiding anything with a political slant. So for me to work my way through this book with any degree of interest or comprehension should be considered a feat and a measure of praise for the author. The first section lays out the basics of our system of government, it's history, and simple functions. This is the part we likely learn in school. It also points out nuance that is typically ignored in school, things that are actually just tradition rather than strict rules. The remainder focuses more on election rules - the different times and types of elections, voter rules, and the ways various groups attempt to manipulate voters and rules for their own ends. I highly recommend this one to any reader, teen or adult, who wants to better understand our political system.

Talk about a timely book release as this title is published right in the middle of a Presidential election year.  Votes of Confidence is a thorough guide to the election process.  It is written to give students in high school a sense of what the election process and their government are about.  It could also be a great resource for adults who need a refresher for themselves or so that they can talk with the children in their lives about the United States democracy.


There are chapters on American government, how voting works, political parties and ways to get involved in the political system.   There is also an important chapter titled Voting with Confidence.


The book is factual but I do note that the author has a point of view.  Clearly noted in the introduction are Trump's use of false information and conspiracy theories, along with mention of Russian interference in the election process. 


This book looks like a valuable resource.  It is jam packed with information and much food for thought. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Mr. Fleischer remarkably writes a book detailing the makeup and history of American politics, with an honest, but not sterile, look at the controversies relating to its elections. It neither pulls punches nor skews honest discussion. I can heartily recommend this title as in-depth and thorough tome. I can see it becoming a staple for our students seeking clarity on the roller coaster that is the American election.

Besides being a librarian, I teach political science at a university. I found this book to be an excellent introduction to most of the topics I cover in my American Government class. I especially appreciated the section on finding reliable news sources.

Should be required reading in High School social studies classes. And for adults!
Easy to read, easily understood, well written and engaging.
Describes and explains the in's and out's of how we conduct elections in the U.S.
Especially in today's ultra-partisan state, it is important that we all know how things (should) work. With the knowledge you can gain from this book, maybe it would help to deal with the fear and loathing people have for each other.
Highly recommend!