U Chic Approved: 'Politics for Dummies'

By Rachael Smith, Student at Radford University

As college students, we're constantly on the go. With classes, homework, sports, sororities, part time jobs, club, etc., it’s hard to find an extra second in your day to pay attention to what’s going on in politics!

That’s why I love "Politics For Dummies." It’s a fantastic guide to anyone who wants to know a little or a lot about the basics of politics. This book is so foolproof that anyone can easily understand it.

So many Americans shy away from the word “politics.” I even hear it from my peers, “I’m not going on any social media sites until the election is over. I hate politics.”

Love it or hate it, we need to be informed about policies are being brought up at the local, state and federal levels.

Author Ann Delaney breaks the book into 7 parts: Politics and You (why should we even care?), Making Your Voice Heard (voting, contributing time and money, telling politicians what you think), Politics Is a Team Sport (partying with politics, taking sides), It’s All Marketing (how candidates sell themselves through advertising), Let the Campaigns Begin! (polls, where your contribution money goes, the dark side of politics), Presidential Politics ( National Party Conventions, electing a President) and Part of Tens (political mistakes, teaching children politics).

I wasn't even registered to vote until I bought this book. There was no way I could avoid it any longer since the book actually provides a form for readers to register. You don’t have to agree with an issue, but you do need to know why you disagree. Vice-versa, if you agree with a politician, know why you agree.

It’s easy to get sucked into political lies when TV ads are the only commercials we see anymore, but it’s important for young people to know where to stand, because we do have a voice and our votes count!