Thanks to Zest Books and NetGalley or the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am always shocked when people say they didn't learn about XXX in school, especially stuff like how the federal government works. I distinctly remember 9th grade civics class, as well as a consumer education class in 12th grade that have had lasting impact. And in case you're wondering, my four kids have been taught this same information in two different high schools in recent years. However, I don't think the information is taught in the most engaging way, and that's where Civic Minded comes in.

Written in a way that encourages and provokes thoughtful questions and comments, this is the sort of book that should replace those stodgy old textbooks. Everything is laid out by chapters, including Social Security, Medicare (which are NOT ENTITLEMENTS {author's words, not mine}; they are EARNED BENEFITS), student loans, the debt ceiling, etc. One can skip around and learn about what they want or read straight through. There are sidebars to break things down a little bit more.

I'm not going to say my kids are itching to talk about tariffs after going through this book, but at least the information is there for them. It is always encouraging to see young people educating themselves about issues that DO matter to them, whether they realize it yet or not. IF there is one complaint, it's that there are a lack of graphs which I would find more useful for those that learn better visually.

Everyone should be required to read Civic Minded. A great compendium of knowledge that every American should know before participating in politics in an easily digestible book.

this was such a good and informative book for kids about topics that they would need to understand and know. It starts young, and if we get our children to understand how the government policies and topics operate now they will be better informed adults.

a wonderful addition to a classroom library for a civics or social studies class

can also be useful for adults who want a better understanding of such topics.

An easy to read primer on often hard to digest civic issues well-researched text this book helps readers understand from spending to citizenship to international relations and most civic issues!

This is a fantastic basic guide to the many programs provided by the US Government. I read this to my kiddo (10) as a bedtime book (I know, but he prefers nonfiction to 'scary' fiction.) He was engrossed the whole time and insisted we read through the entire book. I learned a ton as well that was never covered in my US history and government classes.

Jeff Fleischer does a great job breaking down difficult concepts into simple ideas so that anyone can understand them. He covers things like social security, medicare, taxes, citizenship, insurance student loans, and the poverty line. Things that are vital to understand to be an informed citizen yet aren't taught in school. He covers the basic facts and also the history of how they came to be.

The few nights my husband read instead, kiddo spent our walks the next day filling me in on what I'd missed. We spent an entire walk to school one day with him lecturing me about trade defecits.

This should absolutely be required reading for everyone in the US. I have already ordered the author's other books for young readers and we will be tackling those next.

*Thanks to Zest Books for providing an early copy for review.

Civic Minded covers many important government programs, primarily financial, including taxes, citizenship, and international relations in easy-to-understand text supported with a few images and graphs. This resource aims to educate people about political and social topics so they can make informed decisions and have meaningful conversations around these important and sometimes divisive topics. The layout and information are plainly presented, which might pose a challenge for students who struggle with engagement with a text. However, this would be a good supplemental resource for high school class discussions where one topic is examined in conjunction with a lesson or as a recommendation for a student who has expressed interest in learning more about civics.

This book does not cover everything about the government in detail nor does it intend to. The introduction lays out that the goal of the book is to provide young people with a general understanding of how the government works, and some of the programs a part of it. I also think adults can get a lot out of this book too. I have a background in social sciences and I still learned something new!

"Civic Minded: What Everyone Should Know About the US Government" by Jeff Fleischer is an insightful and user-friendly guide that explores the workings of the U.S. government and its policies. It aims to close the knowledge gap among citizens regarding governmental processes and the importance of understanding them.

Fleischer addresses a broad spectrum of topics such as student loans, federal spending, and sanctions, offering both historical context and current relevance for each. The book is crafted to be both engaging and educational, featuring well-researched content enhanced by sidebars and graphics that simplify complex information. It is highly recommended not only for students but for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how the government operates

Misinformation doesn’t spread solely through fake news but through ignorance regarding government and policy. Fleischer combats this ignorance with this informational guide to government policies and programs. With easy-to-understand text and visually pleasing graphics and sidebars, Fleischer explains how the United States government works, breaking down the history of policies and programs, how they have changed throughout the years, and what they look like today. He dives into dozens of topics, like where federal government spending goes, how student loans work, and what Amtrak is.

THOUGHTS: During these divided times, opinions and votes should be based on informed understanding and thoughtful consideration of the issues at hand, making Civic Minded a must-read not only for every student but for every citizen of the United States. I wish I could buy a copy for every student and staff member in my high school. Chock full of information, each topic is broken into short chapters, making it an excellent companion text for any social study classroom.

Too often, U.S. citizens argue their opinions about civic-related topics but don't fully understanding the backstory. Jeff Fleischer tries to amend this challenge in this book. He explains 45 functions of the federal government and includes historical details about where the laws originated. This book could appeal to anyone who's curious about subjects like taxes, the national debt, student loans, insurance, minimum wage, immigration, and international relations. Readers can easily skip to the subjects they're interested in and explore ideas. The author includes helpful resources at the end for further research.
I enjoyed the history lesson. Also, the book is well researched and easy to read and understand. I also appreciated the sidebars, graphs and photos that broke up the content.

Well written and comprehensive for not only how the government works (from student loans to social security to interest rates to the poverty line) as well as - and this is important - the role of the informed citizen in voting intelligently. Highly recommended.