Civic Minded: What Everyone Should Know about the US Government
(Zest Books/Lerner, 2024)
About the Book:
How do student loans work? What do sanctions do? Where does federal spending go, and who decides on the budget? Author and established journalist Jeff Fleischer digs into these and other relevant civics topics to explain the history behind different processes and programs, what they look like today, and why it’s important to understand them. Through engaging, well-researched text and related sidebars, this book will help readers understand and join many ongoing political conversations in the US, from spending to citizenship to international relations and more.
Praise for Civic Minded:
Foreword Reviews (five stars): “A commonsense guide to what the United States government actually does, Jeff Fleischer’s Civic Minded demystifies subjects at the heart of contemporary political discourse and creates a groundwork of facts for everyday citizens…Blending an encyclopedic scope with charismatic prose, Civic Minded is an essential handbook for understanding America’s government programs.”
Kirkus Reviews: “A deep dive into the nitty-gritty of the U.S. government’s inner workings and their relevance for citizens…The text avoids advocating for any particular course of action, instead presenting a balanced view that shows how hot-button issues are often more complex than partisan sound bites suggest. Clear and stripped of partisan hyperbole; every American can benefit from this book.”
ALA Booklist: “In part, the book is founded in the realization of how much misinformation has been spread by adults in the last few years, and Fleischer hopes to provide basic, understandable information so that readers can have “intelligent, informed conversations.” With that in mind, he covers a wide range of topics, from immigration to government agencies and holidays, as well as all things related to taxation, social security, health insurance, spending, and more…A strong choice for public and school libraries any time, but particularly during an election year.”
Midwest Book Review: “Through engaging, well-researched text and related sidebars, “Civic Minded” will help young readers to understand and, as they get older, join many on-going political conversations in the US, on political and governmental issues ranging from spending, to citizenship, to international relations, to economics–and so much more.”
Where to Buy:
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Target
57th Street Books
Powell’s
Prairie Lights Books
Carmichael’s Bookstore
Harvard Book Store
Gramercy Books
Thrift Books
The MIT Press
Book People
Buffalo Street Books
Better World Books
Penguin Bookshop
Raven Bookstore
Skylark Bookshop
Point Reyes Books
Books on the Square
Bulk Bookstore
Murder by the Book
Wordsworth Books
An Unlikely Story
The Reading Bug
Boulder Bookstore
Womrath Bookshop
McLean & Eakin
La Playa Books
Sandman Books
Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Mighty Ape (New Zealand)
Blackwell’s (United Kingdom)
Indigo (Canada)
Bokus (Sweden)
Saxo (Denmark)
Bol (The Netherlands and Belgium)
Exlibris (Switzerland)
Sanmin (Taiwan)
Interviews, Events, and Articles about Civic Minded:
The book launch was October 2 at 57th Street Books, with my author friend David Nelson conducting the talk.
The Chicago Reader, the city’s primary alt-weekly, featured the book launch in its event calendar.
Patch featured the book launch in its event roundup.
So did the University of Chicago.
American Libraries Magazine included the book in its Recommended Reading for Election Season.
Bookriot featured Civic Minded as one of three titles in its “A Civic Education in YA” roundup.
Kirkus gave the book a great review and also included it in this great list of twenty-five books for young voters in training.
Kirkus also featured Civic Minded as one of Six Books That Demystify the Democratic Process.
Bookriot also featured the book in this article on the best new releases for October 2024.
We Are Teachers included Civic Minded in its list of best new books for Fall 2024, saying “this nonpartisan book a handy guide to all sorts of important issues…that even grown adults can benefit from reading.”
The Hoover Institution including the book in its Good American Citizenship Working Group’s notable developments in civics.
Publishers Weekly included Civic Minded in its Fall 2024 Roundup.
School Library Journal featured Civic Minded in this Teen Librarian Toolbox showcase of Lerner Books releases for fall.
Junior Library Guild featured Civic Minded as a featured title for libraries.
My publisher, Lerner Books, included both Civic Minded and Votes of Confidence in this roundup of civics books.
The North Dakota State Library featured the book in a list of books that prepare and teach young voters.
Sno-Isle Library in Washington State featured the book in its Rock the Election resources for teens.
ALA Booklist, in addition to a nice review, included the book in its Fall 2024 preview.
