What one book contains the most valuable lessons on government that every citizen of the country should become familiar with? The Federalist Papers? Plato’s Democracy? Seems to me that some of this stuff would be a lot more valuable than Romeo and Juliet or anne frankly’s diary or whatever passes for a civics class these days
Inb4 Starship Troopers
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement by Jean Twenge & Keith Campbell
Both books are somewhat old now. They were also probably written by leftist academics.
They likely aren't gen pop focused enough. But these two books had the largest impacts on my personal life.
The first made me less apologetic about embracing Introversion and taking agency in life to maximize this framework.
The second helped to understand narcissists for who they really are. It specifically killed the Archie comics version of narcissists simply being insecure bullies who are full of self-doubt inside. It helped to clinically validate them as the all-consuming irreparable monsters they really are.
It also argues against the "everyone is great" participation medal culture.
Huh, interesting options
I guess the smallest form of “government” is interpersonal, and how you understand other people will play a big role in those interactions, so I see where you’re coming from
These books were very specific to my personal situation, so they likely don't extrapolate.
But without a doubt, these two books have had the biggest impact on changing the way I approach real life.
Perhaps a high school curriculum could have a reading list of similar Big 5 Personality Inventory books that have been vetted so that teens could pick the one most applicable or interesting to them to start "thinking about thinking".