Where to start with politics?

[Ryan M]

So I’m 32 years old and know nothing when it comes to politics. I don’t even know the difference between a democrat and a republican. I’m not sure how common this is or how worried about this I should be. How could I get a decent foundation when it comes to politics just for the sake of being more well rounded? The problem is that I don’t know where to start and I find it so uninteresting that I feel like I could only read like 1-2 books maximum on the topic just to know at least something 

[Schizophonia]

You must have a particularly small ego ahah.

[Alex4]

People usually start by watching political shows on TV and, more recently, listening to podcasts or YouTubers. I don’t think that’s very effective, you can waste a lot of time consuming crappy content that doesn’t really teach you anything.

One idea that comes to mind is that you could search for "politics for beginners" books on Amazon, or also you could ask ChatGPT. In the meantime, stick to this subforum, there are users here who share really good insights.

[The Renaissance Man]

@Ryan M Leo's 4-part series called "conscious politics" on youtube.

[Leo Gura]

You can start by subscribing to some newspaper with actual journalists, like the New York Times or Washington Post  and read a few of their articles per week. Do that for a few years and you will learn a lot.

Understanding politics requires following the news for years. Slowly you learn.

[mmKay]

I was in your shoes a couple of years ago. ChatGPT is the absolute best tool for learning the big picture of politics. This is all you need for someone in your shoes and mild level of interest.

If you're at ground zero, absolutely pay much attention to any YT channels or media. ChatGPT is your bible. The big problem with understanding politics from scratch is all the bias and ideology and missinformation that comes from human minds. People with big followings will spew their ideology at you in the most assertive and confident tone, and if you sorta resonate with their vibes you will start getting sucked into their political orbit.

ChatGPT provides real time UNBIASED, OBJECTIVE, ACCURRATE personalized feedback.

It's was extremely difficult to understand anything at all from my absolute begginner POV. Everything was a sh*tshow.

 The only thing that saved me from going into rabbitholes and echo chambers was a solid epistemology backgrond from actualized.org

Just ask it the questions that are the most burning for you ATM in politics --  ask it to make it simpler if its too complicated, and enjoy a clean source of practical political theory.

Cleaner than from any human mind !

Edited November 26 by mmKay

[Raze]

https://www.amazon.com/What-Should-About-Politics-Fifth-dp-1648210074/dp/1648210074/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

[Hardkill]

2 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

You can start by subscribing to some newspaper with actual journalists, like the New York Times or Washington Post  and read a few of their articles per week. Do that for a few years and you will learn a lot.

Understanding politics requires following the news for years. Slowly you learn.

I fear that the Washington Post is already on its way to being corrupted by Jeff Bezos just like how X was massively corrupted by Musk.

[Husseinisdoingfine]

I randomly typed up politics books for newbies into Amazon and I found this.

What You Should Know About Politics... But Don't

American Politics for Dummies

Politics For Dummies

The Politics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Big Ideas)

Just note, I have not read a single one of these books. 

Edited November 26 by Husseinisdoingfine

[Husseinisdoingfine]

Two bonus books I dug up.

The Economics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Big Ideas)

The Sociology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Big Ideas)

[Joshe]

Compile a comprehensive list of questions that can be applied to each political ideology. Ideally, plug those questions in a Claude Project for quick analysis. Maybe questions like this:

• What is X? Provide modern day examples of what it looks like in real life. 
• What are the foundational beliefs and principles that define X?
• What other ideologies tend to cluster with X? 
• What are the core values of X ideology?
• How to steelman and strawman X? 
• Are specific cultures predisposed to X?

A key thing to understand is that most people are not political, but everyone has inherent tendencies and influences that predispose them to particular ideologies, and all it takes is a big event or some propaganda to arouse their political energy. You can't really understand the ideologies without knowing about the fuel that propels them. 

Edited November 26 by Joshe

[Basman]

 

[Yimpa]

What made you decide to get into politics?

[Breathe]

I'd combine what @Leo Gura and @Joshe said. Read decent journalism for current events. As you read you will come across terms you do not understand. Use that as leverage to take a deeper dive into those concepts. At first you won't understand much of what you read. But over time the gaps will fill in and shit will start to click. Initially, you will have to push through the challenge of learning something new. But over time you start to enjoy it and become more curious.

As time progresses you will have deeper insight into the human psyche and societies at large. This is when the learning becomes very rewarding. There is no end to the depth of knowledge.

[Inliytened1]

On 11/26/2024 at 5:13 AM, Ryan M said:

So I’m 32 years old and know nothing when it comes to politics. I don’t even know the difference between a democrat and a republican. I’m not sure how common this is or how worried about this I should be. How could I get a decent foundation when it comes to politics just for the sake of being more well rounded? The problem is that I don’t know where to start and I find it so uninteresting that I feel like I could only read like 1-2 books maximum on the topic just to know at least something 

Don't change anything.   You're perfect for understanding Truth.

Edited December 2 by Inliytened1

[Ulax]

@Ryan M I’d watch moral foundations of politics lecture series by Ian Shapiro. 
 

Haven’t watched it myself but have watched another lecture series by him. He’s a Yale political lecturer. He’s a great speaker, and also from seeing the course content of the moral foundations series it seems great for beginners.