america the book a citizen's guide to democracy inaction

Chapter 2, 'The Founding of America,' discusses various important events that led up to the American founding, such as the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party, the Articles of Confederation, and so on. It begins with a brief discussion of prehistoric man and Athenian democracy, moving through the Enlightenment and ending prior to the American revolution. Chapter 1, 'Democracy before America,' is a brief, satirical synopsis of world political history and American political history. The book contains a study guide, a foreword, afterword, and so on, but it primarily comprised of nine chapters. The book appeared just before the 2004 election and in its first printing had an election guide that made fun of the candidates, but subsequent printings do not have the insert.

Small articles are contributed by then Daily Show affiliates Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee and Ed Helms, and other pages have fake campaign stickers for different historical presidential candidates.

It is intended to mock United States high school social studies textbooks, and as such, is composed of various satirical exercises, study guides and quick facts. The book's other two authors were Ben Karlin, the executive producer of Jon Stewart's The Daily Show and David Javerbaum, the show's head writer. America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction was written by Jon Stewart and a team of writers in 2004 which pokes fun at American political institutions and attitudes.

America the book a citizen's guide to democracy inaction