This is a short, easy to read and throught-provoking book. Skach eloquently sets out the problems with our current rules-based, constitutional-focused political systems and our over-reliance on the law, and proposes six principles that we citizens should adopt to build better societies. The first part of the book feels very relevant, with succinct assessments of the impact of major events such as Brexit and the pandemic.

The reason I gave it a 3* rating is because the second half of the book felt a little too idealistic. Skach's six principles sound great in theory, but it felt too optimistic that we'd be able, as a society, to get there any time soon (perhaps I'm too much of a pessimist!). I would have liked to read more about the journey, i.e. the practical steps to get from the current state of our society to a world in which everyone is an active citizen and can live well in their community.

Overall, I really enjoyed the concepts in the book.

Timely and thought-provoking, the central thesis of Skach's How to Be a Citizen is that a 'bottom up' approach of consensus, community and cooperative living is ultimately more sustainable than any 'top down' measure of rule when it comes to creating a functional society. Skach shares examples of her experience as an expert in constitutional law and politics, and it's an engaging and persuasive read. Given how political systems have struggled, increasingly, to satisfy the needs of the many rather than the few in a world where the political and social landscape is rapidly changing, the idea of 'taking back control' not through authoritarian measures but through day-to-day acts of engaging with others in small but important ways feels quietly radical. Recommended reading for pretty much anyone feeling a bit impotent at 'The State of Things'.

In How to Be a Citizen, Skatch manages to tackle several issues stemming from old systems - especially constitutions.
Being a constitutional scholar herself Skatch has a lot to offer, and I believe there is more to come. I hope there is more to follow.
In this book, she invites us to imagine a stateless society and she has practical and sound insights on this.
I am glad I chose this book. It was certainly thought-provoking and grounded in reality (mostly). I may not be fully qualified to understand, exercise or criticise everything the author talks about, however what stood out for me was the more subjective/personal insights, the every day insights, and I will return to this book to fully absorb its contents.