The focus is on why Americans fall back on familiar thinking patterns in their political behavior. There is an even-handed analysis of how conservatives and liberals see politics, religion, economics, culture, gender issues, and social values. The book provides a clear and concise explanation of how both groups think, and why the philosophy of each reflects their view of human nature. Readers are compelled to evaluate their own attitudes in a simulation and discover how they would react in a setting where there is political activism.