Praise for Generation Citizen
A Big Other Most Anticipated Small Press Book of the Year
"Insightful, inspirational . . . A useful resource for aspiring political activists." —Rebekah Kati, Library Journal
"Warren, co-founder and CEO of the national political youth movement Generation Citizen, makes his book debut with a pragmatic, anecdote-filled guide for empowering young people . . . An enthusiastic, supportive manifesto to inspire political engagement." —Kirkus Reviews
"At a time when the future of our country and our world hangs in the balance, Scott Warren delivers a powerful, stirring, and deeply important call to action for our most vital and undernurtured citizen force: our youth. This book should be required reading for anyone under the age of thirty-five." —Josh Tickell, author of The Revolution Generation
"Scott Warren argues forcefully and eloquently that young people will save us all—and he comes with the receipts to prove it. By sharing his own lived experience and that of some of the hundreds of thousands of young people touched through his work at Generation Citizen, Warren lays out how we can take charge wherever we are, no matter our age. Following Warren's advice, any of us can and will change the world." —Amanda Litman, CEO of Run for Something and author of Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself
"Scott Warren is at the vanguard of a new movement called Action Civics, based on the all-American idea that the best way for young people to learn democracy is to practice it at the local level. In this timely and accessible new book, Warren deftly combines stories and strategies to show us that the rising generation is ready to exercise power—and save our republic.” —Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University and author of You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen
“With incisive language, compelling stories, and a clarion call to action, Scott Warren's Generation Citizen offers a compelling argument for the essential role that government plays in our lives and the essential role young people can—and must—play in building the beloved community. A must-read for anyone worried about our shared democracy and hopeful about young people's power to change it.” —Eric D. Dawson, CEO of Peace First
"Life can be full of surprises, twists, and failures. This is certainly the case for Scott Warren, the cofounder and CEO of the fastest-growing civics education organization called Generation Citizen, or as he turns out, a reluctant social entrepreneur. This refreshingly honest and reflective chronicle of this young leader is filled with deeply personal events and encounters with people that changed his life. At the same time, his own experience is an example of young people making a positive change. Through stories of his own and his students’, Warren makes a compelling case that young people from all backgrounds can and should lead the change. Warren weaves many stories of young people leading the change in different places, using different means, and how pivotal education can be in giving young people the tools they need to activate their ideas and to 'right the wrong.' Warren, who grew up all over the world himself, has an enduring appreciation of the great American experiment and the republican form of democracy, and is absolutely set on making sure that every person gets the preparation they need to achieve their civic leadership potential. It is an inspiration and a call to action for young people and adults who want to see progress, to start believing in young people’s ability to lead, not later when they 'grow up,' but today." —Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, PhD, director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life
12/01/2018
Warren (cofounder and CEO, Generation Citizen) aims to inspire young people to become politically active. His organization teaches civics to U.S. middle and high schoolers, asking them to advocate politically for a local issue. Drawing from his experiences growing up in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Ecuador at a time when each country was experiencing political change, Warren focuses each chapter on a different part of advocacy work. This includes selecting and learning about an issue, developing a personal narrative, realizing the power of teambuilding, and gaining power and influence. The author walks through the techniques used by Generation Citizen to show how broad goals and tactics can be narrowed to be more specific and actionable. Sections on learning from failure and engaging with political opponents are particularly useful. The concepts are illustrated with insightful, inspirational examples, and practical advice. Warren's democratic politics are shown in the examples provided, though he does occasionally make an effort to be bipartisan. He concludes by reflecting honestly on his organization's successes, failures, and improvements. VERDICT A useful resource for aspiring political activists with YA crossover appeal.—Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
