How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You to Do It)

by Lindsey Cormack

Overview

An essential guide to nurturing the next generation of responsible, informed citizens

Lindsey Cormack's book, How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You to Do It), speaks directly to an America in which civic knowledge is alarmingly sparse and many people dread politics. It's a tool for parents, educators, and anyone eager to fill this gap. In the book, Cormack offers an engaging and practical approach to discussing political issues and the inner workings of the U.S. government with children. She explains why our schools can no longer be the sites of civic education that they used to be and provides parents with strategies and necessary know-how to be able to impart these lessons to their children. From the intricacies of the voting process to the foundational principles of democracy and the significance of key government documents like the Constitution, the author demystifies complex topics with clarity and insight.

You'll also find:

• Data about the current state of the American citizenry, our educational approaches to civics, and the risks of civic disengagement
• A framework for starting important political discussions at home
• Comprehensive explanations of American federalism and how different branches of government are responsible for different functions
• Strategies for navigating federal, state, and local elections

How to Raise a Citizen is a roadmap to a future where political dialogue and civic engagement are not just encouraged but celebrated in our homes. With actionable advice and easy-to-understand explanations, it empowers readers to instill a sense of civic responsibility and curiosity in the young minds they influence.

Perfect for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone committed to cultivating an informed and active citizenry, this book is an indispensable resource for guiding children to understand, appreciate, and participate in the democratic process. Equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies to raise engaged citizens in today's politically charged world by adding How to Raise a Citizen to your library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394278701
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/13/2024
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	105,593
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

LINDSEY CORMACK, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Stevens Institute of Technology. She is a contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, CBS News, Fox News, Bloomberg, FiveThirtyEight and other media outlets. She authored Congress and U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis and runs DCinbox.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for How to Raise a Citizen

“In How to Raise a Citizen, Cormack explores the urgent need for effective civic attention in our homes. With democratic engagement at a critical juncture, this book serves as a guide for parents striving to fill the gaps left by formal education systems in political and civic understanding. This book provides practical strategies to help parents pass on the foundational knowledge every young adult should have before stepping out into the world in order to be as powerful as possible. More importantly, it emphasizes the skill of engaging in respectful, informed discussions, a key component of democratic participation. How to Raise a Citizen is more than just a parenting guide—it's a tool to nurture the next generation of informed, engaged, and responsible citizens, ready to contribute to a more functional democracy.”

—Dolly Chugh, author of The Person You Mean to Be and A More Just Future, professor at the NYU Stern School of Business

“We all have the power to build a better democracy—and it begins at home. But if it feels like the only thing more complicated than parenting is our polarized and complex political system, Lindsey Cormack makes the never-more-essential task of civics education come alive in this passionate and non-partisan how-to manual for inspiring our kids about the possibilities of democracy. Bonus point: It doubles as a master-class for parents, as well. Our politics might be brutish, and too many Thanksgiving dinners have been ruined by red vs blue food fights. But what Cormack understands is that democracy dies in silence, and that parents need to do this job because no one else will. Follow her advice and something important will be fun, get your kids talking, and maybe inspire them for life. Our national conversation starts with you.”

—David Daley, best-selling author of Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy

“Cormack makes a compelling case that parents play a vital role in raising engaged citizens. This comprehensive guide is a must-read for parents who know our kids need to be more involved in our democracy, but don’t know where to start.”

—Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How To Raise an Adult

“This book will inspire parents to raise civically-minded children in a me-first world. Written by a sensitive parent and political scientist, it offers practical guidance for discussing politics and government with children in a way that prepares them to become balanced, active citizens instead of passive or polarized ones.”

—William J. Doherty, Ph.D., professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota and co-founder of Braver Angels

“I've already started incorporating Lindsey's tactics from How to Raise a Citizen in my parenting! My 1-year-old daughter and 5 year-old-son are listening and engaging in conversations about voting, political leadership and the issues they care most about. I hope many parents take on this incredible responsibility as we shape the next generation of voters, policymakers, and political leaders.”

—Sara Guillermo, CEO of Ignite

“In this timely, readable book, Professor Lindsey Cormack reminds us that preserving democracy requires purposeful, lifelong learning and practice. Yet, we often fail to equip our children with the knowledge and tools they need to become empowered citizens. With practical wisdom and relatable advice, Cormack provides parents with a roadmap to help their children grow into adults capable of fixing our broken politics and safeguarding our democratic traditions.”

—Andrew Buher, Princeton University

“Breaking away from the traditional parenting or how to understand politics books, Lindsey Cormack takes the reader on a journey that provides parents conversational structures and topics to use with their children when talking about politics.  The age-appropriate guides and multiple topic areas Cormack discusses for federal, state, and local level politics serve as a nice introduction for understanding how politics works and how we can get engaged in politics with our children.”

—Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, professor and Department Chair, Department of Applied Communication, UA Little Rock; Braver Angels national volunteer leader

“A parenting book like no other, How to Raise a Citizen offers a non-partisan toolkit for parents trying to raise kids who become not just good adults, but effective, civically engaged citizens.”

—Elizabeth Doll, Director of Braver Politics at Braver Angels

“In this timely and much-needed book, Lindsey Cormack, an expert on American Politics, reminds us that the responsibility of parenting our democracy didn't end with the founders of our country: it's all our responsibility to pass the torch of democracy on to the next generation by parenting our children to be effective democratic citizens. Readers of Cormack's imaginative book will learn why it's important for parents to accept this core responsibility, how they can raise children to be more effective citizens, and how they can keep democracy's light burning bright by doing so.”

—David Darmofal, University of South Carolina

“This book is an absolute revolution! How to Raise a Citizen is an incisive and easy to follow roadmap for a saner political future for us and our kids.”

—Brandon Rottinghaus, professor of political science, University of Houston

“With the heart of a parent and the rigor of a social scientist, Lindsey Cormack guides us through how to prepare our children for the rewards and challenges of citizenship in the 21st century. If we follow her advice, we will create a better democracy, one child at a time.”

—Christopher A. Cooper, Madison Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs, Western Carolina University

“Lindsey Cormack has written the guidebook parents need to help their kids cut through the political noise and to understand our complicated governance system. That's an achievement and a great service.”

—Kevin R. Kosar, editor, UnderstandingCongress.org.

“Lindsey Cormack has shown an in-depth understanding of our national and state governments and our political system since high school.  It has been her lifelong passion as a student, a professor, and now as a parent. In How to Raise A Citizen, Professor Cormack gives parents, and dare I say teachers new to the profession, the who, why, what, and how, to overcome the continued decline in knowledge of our government and political system. Rather than ‘fearing and avoiding,’ Cormack strives to help us ‘understand and embrace’ politics. Lindsey Cormack’s book, How to Raise a Citizen, helps us keep our republic.”

—Ken S. Thomas, executive director, Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, Kansas First Amendment Foundation

“This book offers a blueprint for parents, blending meticulous research with practical advice, to ensure that family discussions about politics nurture informed, engaged future citizens capable of safeguarding and enriching democracy in America.”

—Yphtach Lelkes, associate professor, Annenberg School for Communication and Political Science, University of Pennsylvania

“Prof. Lindsey Cormack reminds us that saving our democracy starts at home. How to Raise a Citizen is a vital resource for parents who want their kids to be curious, informed and engaged.”

—Christian Vanderbrouk, contributor to The Bulwark and former George W. Bush appointee