“Uncontrollable consumerism has become a watchword of our culture despite regular and compelling calls for its end. The United States has more malls than high schools; Americans spend more time shopping than reading. ... Some of the most insightful writing about the American character over the nation's history has been about neither freedom nor democracy but about the crazed impulse to acquire things.” WritingHas BeensEndsStatesCharacterSchoolCultureReadingNationsUnitedUnited StatesDemocracyHigh SchoolDespiteImpulseAcquireMore TimeInsightfulShoppingCompellingConsumerismMallsUncontrollableAmerican Character Book:Loud and Clear Source: Loud and Clear
“Obama is not just a powerful speaker, but a thinker engaged with the ideas of his country and his age--this argument by historian James Kloppenberg should therefore fascinate anyone interested in American politics or how ideas shape public life. Tracing the influences of Obama's family, educational, and work experiences on his ideas, Reading Obama locates a unique individual in the crosscurrents of American democracy and continuing fights over American ideals.” ShouldIdeasCountryAgeFightingReadingIndividualPowerfulDemocracyInfluenceShapesUniqueIdealsArgumentEducationalEngagedThinkerHistorianSpeakersContinuingAmerican PoliticsPublic LifeAmerican DemocracyTracingUnique IndividualsWork Experience Author:Martha Minow
“Rosa Luxemburg was - still is for me - a great personal and intellectual heroine. Her analysis of Leninism and capitalism and social democracy are all worth reading. I wouldn't consider anyone truly politically literate if they hadn't given her work at least some study.” IfsStillsReadingGivenSocialDemocracyStudyIntellectualCapitalismAnalysisHeroinesRosaWorth ReadingGreat PersonSocial Democracy Author:Christopher Hitchens
“Reading and writing, like everything else, improve with practice. And, of course, if there are no young readers and writers, there will shortly be no older ones. Literacy will be dead, and democracy - which many believe goes hand in hand with it - will be dead as well.” IfsWritingBelieveWellsHandsYoungCoursesReadingPracticeDemocracyReaderLiteracyHand In HandReading And Writing Author:Margaret Atwood
“Reading builds the educated and informed electorate so vital to our democracy.” ReadingEducationDemocracyEducatedReading BooksElectorate Author:Brad Henry
“We teach reading, writing and math by [having students do] them. But we teach democracy by lecture.” WritingReadingTeachDemocracyStudentsMathLecturesReading Writing Author:Shelley Berman
“I really wasn't very involved politically with anything up until that point. Then I started reading about the second Palestinian Intifada, and I spoke to friends in activist and journalism circles. Then, somehow by complete luck, I ended up at Democracy Now.” ReadingDemocracyInvolvedLuckCirclesJournalismSpokesActivistPalestinian Author:Sharif Abdel Kouddous