The Art of the Possible

An Everyday Guide to Politics

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Pub Date Sep 15 2015 | Archive Date Jan 04 2017

Description

We all know what a politician looks like, right? They’re old people who wear suits and make long, boring speeches full of indecipherable words. Not so fast! As The Art of the Possible explains, everyone is a politician — even young people who aren’t yet eligible to vote. We all have influence over how politics function.

But what are politics, and why do we need them? This book answers the universal query in nine short chapters that explain everything from why we form societies and the basic types of governments to the power of public opinion, methods of rhetoric, and the reasons why politicians “lie.”

Written in an accessible, conversational voice and packed with anecdotes and case studies from across history and around the world, this book helps foster independent thought and curiosity about how a government works — or doesn’t work. Readers will come away equipped with the knowledge they need to understand current events and elections, and maybe even be empowered to civic action themselves.

Informational text features: table of contents, chapters, diagrams, sidebars, in-text definitions of key terms, glossary, index, and sources

We all know what a politician looks like, right? They’re old people who wear suits and make long, boring speeches full of indecipherable words. Not so fast! As The Art of the Possible explains...


A Note From the Publisher

– Ideal resource for Presidential election season

– Framed around the idea that everyone in a society influences politics, even young people

– Helps develop political awareness and critical thinking skills Includes diverse anecdotes from across history and the globe

– Back matter contains glossary, index and sources

– Ideal resource for Presidential election season

– Framed around the idea that everyone in a society influences politics, even young people

– Helps develop political awareness and critical...


Advance Praise

"A demystifying resource that encourages readers to take interest and take action."
Publishers Weekly

"An optimistically presented introduction to politics."
Kirkus

"Thanks to accessible content that will resonate with most students...this logical, relevant approach, combined with realistic suggestions on how to get involved, makes for an engaging alternative to standardized texts and just might spark some political careers."
Booklist

"A highly accessible introduction to politics."
School Library Journal

"Succeeds in conveying a topic often not covered at this grade level...a necessary book. Recommended."
School Library Connection

"A demystifying resource that encourages readers to take interest and take action."
Publishers Weekly

"An optimistically presented introduction to politics."
Kirkus

"Thanks to accessible...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781771470681
PRICE $17.95 (USD)
PAGES 64

Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

This short book covers a wide spectrum of the activities encompassed in the field of politics. From advocacy, voting, government systems, and policy, to conflict resolution, argumentation, and the power of the individual to effect change, this book covers it all in an accessible, conversational style. It includes useful illustrations, a glossary of terms, and case studies for discussion, which would make it a good resource for classroom use.

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This is an excellent book for a young child to read during this time of the year.

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Ages 10-14. An even-handed and optimistic introduction to politics that teaches young people that politics isn't just something that happens somewhere else. One doesn't have to be old enough to vote to change the world—just look at Malala Yousafzai. We are introduced to a few kids who have made a major difference in their communities. We also learn about an average citizen who fought for what she believed in and won.

There are chapters with basic information on the types of government and the belief sets of different ideologies. Complex concepts are explained in a concise and easy-to-understand way. The author uses recent examples to elaborate on their points, such as the Iraq War, court rulings on gay marriage, and the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. The central focus is on being an active and informed citizen. This book discusses how groups of people with conflicting opinions can get better results. It answers many important questions on communicating well and the nature of conflict. How do you construct a good argument? In what ways is conflict both good and bad? What’s the difference between a fight and a debate?

This book is such a breath of fresh air during a contentious election season. It’s a great introduction to being an active and engaged citizen, even if you just keep informed and discuss issues with friends and family. Books like this will go a long way to cultivating an informed, rational generation of citizens.

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