Andrea Batista Schlesinger

Trends among today's youth suggest a serious deficiency in the ability to ask questions, which is a crucial skill. The number of young people who follow current events is at an all-time low. About a third of those younger than 25 (34%) say they get no news on a typical day, up from 25% in 1998. Online social networking sites make it easy for young people to be connected but not engaged. This technology can be harnessed to create an informed citizenry that participates in its democratic processes -- if we recognize its potential and act accordingly.

The future is a moving target, and it will require a populace that can tackle tomorrow's challenges with critical, thoughtful engagement. In this book, Batista Schlesinger offers both a penetrating socio-cultural critique of our current path and a way forward for cultivating inquiry among our youngest generation.