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100 1  Schlesinger, Andrea Batista. 
245 14 The Death of "Why?" :|bThe Decline of Questioning and the 
       Future of Democracy /|cAndrea Batista Schlesinger. 
264  1 [Place of publication not identified] :|bBerrett-Koehler 
       Publishers,|c2009. 
264  4 |c©2009 
300    1 online resource (200 pages). 
336    text|btxt|2rdacontent 
337    computer|bc|2rdamedia 
338    online resource|bcr|2rdacarrier 
490 1  A BK currents book 
506    Access limited to subscribing institutions. 
520    The spirit of inquiry is the engine of democracy. The 
       democratic process is nothing less than citizens regularly
       asking what kind of society they want to live in and whom 
       they want to lead them. But more and more people are 
       avoiding the whole messy business of questioning. 
       Americans are instead being trained to look for ready-made
       answers, with potentially dire implications for the health
       of our society. In this impassioned new book, Andrea 
       Batista Schlesinger argues that we’re besieged by cultural
       forces that urge us to avoid independent thought and 
       critical analysis. The media reduces politics to a 
       spectator sport, focusing on polls and personalities 
       rather than issues and ideas. Schools teach to 
       standardized tests—students learn to fill in the bubbles, 
       not open their minds. “Financial literacy” courses have 
       replaced civics classes, graduating smart shoppers rather 
       than informed citizens. Even the Internet promotes habits 
       that discourage inquiry. Regurgitating search-engine 
       results becomes a substitute for genuine research and 
       reflection. Social networks promote connection rather than
       engagement. With all the information available online, 
       over a third of those younger than twenty-five say they 
       get no news on a typical day, up from 25 percent in 1998. 
       The situation isn’t hopeless. Batista Schlesinger 
       spotlights individuals and institutions across the country
       that are working to renew a healthy sense of curiosity and
       skepticism, particularly in American’s youth. It is, at 
       this point, an uphill battle but one well worth 
       undertaking. The Death of “Why?” offers both a 
       penetrating socio-cultural critique of our current path 
       and a way forward for cultivating inquiry and 
       reinvigorating our democracy. 
538    System requirements: Adobe Digital editions. 
588 0  Print version record. 
650  0 Political participation|zUnited States. 
650  0 Civics|xStudy and teaching|zUnited States. 
650  0 Youth|xPolitical activity|zUnited States. 
650  7 POLITICAL SCIENCE / Civics & Citizenship.|2bisacsh 
655  0 Electronic books. 
776 08 |iPrint version:|aSchlesinger, Andrea Batista.|tDeath of 
       "why?".|dSan Francisco : Berrett-Koehler, c2009.
       |z9781576755853 (pbk. : alk. paper)|z1576755851
       |w(DLC)2009011268 
830  0 BK currents book. 
914    frd00003005