Customer Reviews

Big Citizenship: How Pragmatic Idealism Can Bring Out the Best in America

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From the first Page this book makes you feel as though anything is possible if you are passionate enough. It is not someone telling you a beautifully written tale that is hard to imagine. This book shows exactly how creating change and paving your own future is possible. Incredibly empowering, heartfelt and inspirational. This book needs to be at the top of your book list. It will not only change the way you view the world, it will change the way you view your role in it. READ THIS BOOK!! I reccomend this to anyone and everyone!

Alan's book about Big Citizenship is an incredible journey of how you can create change in the world. You feel like the impossible can be achieved. I recommend this for anyone who has ever wanted to make a difference--in their community, business, government, or education system. If all of us were "big citizens" imagine what our world would be like! A must read!

I cannot say enough good things about this beautiful book. It is idealistic without being naive, gripping without being overblown, and a fabulous testament to the power of each of us to effect change. It is NOT a boring owner's manual, but a riveting pageturner -- offering clear advice about how each of us can embrace our inner citizen as seen through Alan Khazei's decades of experiences on the front lines of service. Share this book with everyone who has ever dreamed of making our world a better place; it will inspire and motivate!

For years, I've described my political views as Pragmatic Idealism. In this book, Alan Khazei lays out exactly what I've meant by that. It's about balancing a longer vision of a better world with the concrete steps we can take to get us there. Alan's story--from founding City Year to building a National Service Movement--is an inspiring one that shows with passion and action anyone is capable of making change. I am energized by this book and recommend it to anyone interested in seeking a better world for all. Big Citizenship isn't just an idea or an action, it's a lifestyle.

To say that this book is inspiring is an understatement. It outlines not only an optimistic vision for the future, but the path to get us there. The pages are full of examples of social changes that we can make as individuals, and how overall we excel when we invest in ourselves and our communities. Alan Khazei's book should be read by every person who seeks to better our world, and should be regarded as one of the most sensible roadmaps to get us on track. It is for world leaders, students, parents, teachers, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between. Each will feel empowered to add value to his or her community in a new way. Alan Khazei's story is remarkable, and his idea of Big Citizenship is a refreshing way to remind us all that we are valuable contributors to our communities. I hope this becomes the first in a series by the author!!!

As someone who is often fed up with the partisanship in our national discourse, I really enjoyed this book. Alan Khazei introduces the idea of Big Citizenship and how through individual action, we can move beyond the tired debates that too often flood the public airwaves. Khazei writes of a new way forward -- read this book and come away inspired!

If you're concerned about where this country is headed, about our divided politics and seemingly selfish, materialistic culture, this is the book you've been waiting for. Alan Khazei turned down a career in corporate law to co-found City Year, a non-profit youth service group that became a movement, blazing a new trail as a social entrepreneur. His story is a tonic for our times. Best of all, this isn't one of those tedious all-about-me memoirs that successful leaders often write to burnish their image and build the personal brand. It's written in a warm human voice that draws you in from the first page.

Early on, recalling his childhood as the son of a hardworking immigrant family, Khazei says that as he boarded the school bus each day, his Italian-American mom would shout out, "I love you, Alan!" He was mortified, as any kid would be. "But," he continues, "I learned from her the power of unconditional love." And that's really the theme here. Love of others, love of community and country, love of freedom and all the possibilities it offers us to build a better world. In Big Citizenship, Khazei shows how to grasp that potential and DO something with it. This book isn't ultimately about him, it's about us and the enormous benefits we can reap, individually and collectively, by getting back in touch with our own idealism and putting it into practice.

A great read, highly recommended.

Big Citizenship is such an enjoyable and fascinating read. I am admittedly not an avid reader, but Alan's tale of starting City Year with his college roommate from within (almost literally) their college dorm room and bringing it to the vehicle for change it is today was so engaging and inspiring that I couldn't put the book down. This book made me realize how powerful citizenship can be!

I bought this book intrigued by the description and concept of increasing the citizenry through national service. As a social entrepreneur and nonprofit director, I found the insight provided by Khazei and his remarkable journey to be inspiring. His writing style is approached from a series of stories that could even be considered essays all of which have a life of their own.

My parents & teachers taught me how to be a good citizen. Alan Khazei gives us a blueprint for effecting change in our society by taking citizen action. This book has changed my way of thinking about citizenship and my own responsibilities. It certainly makes me bristle about petty (and not so petty) partisan politics. Why can't we each be a big citizen? Don't miss this book if you care about your country. It matters not your political party if you want big citizenship!