Promoting the “examined life” as an ideal that brings inquiry and action together, this new text addresses the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills that are central to both academic success and democratic participation. Students write to reflect on their experiences, put forward their views to academic and public audiences, shape library and field research, and go under other people's arguments, seeking to understand the values and beliefs that define differences of opinion and working towards negotiation and positive social action. The readings chapters explore common communities like family, campus, and country, but they also open up the less—commonly discussed communities like faith—based, planetary, and virtual. Case studies in each readings chapter immerse students in ethical issues that test the coherence of that community.