Reminiscent of a middle-school social studies textbook, but with a lot more curse words, “America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction” is outrageously entertaining and oddly informative.

Written by the writers of “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” the book explores the roots and inner workings of American democracy, starting with a foreword by Thomas Jefferson — yes, the Thomas Jefferson.

The first few chapters summarize democracy before America and the beginnings of American democracy, followed by chapters on the three branches of government and one on campaigns and elections. The media, the possible future of American democracy and a final chapter on the rest of the world, titled “International House of Horrors,” complete the book.

“America (The Book)” is the textbook that all students dream they could read in school. Combining factual information with fresh, smart jokes, there is no way you’ll be able to put this book down.

Take, for example, the discussion questions and classroom activities section that ends each chapter. In chapter two, one question reads, “Why do you think the Framers made the Constitution so soul-crushingly boring?” The first classroom activity listed is “Found a country.”

The jokes never cease to be funny throughout, nor does the sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek criticism of the absurdity of the political process. The book is most definitely non-partisan, describing Democrats and Republicans in equally harsh terms. “The Republican Party is the party of nostalgia. It seeks to return America to a simpler, more innocent and moral past that never actually existed. The Democrats are utopians. They seek to create an America so fair and non-judgmental that life becomes an unbearable series of apologies.”

Graphics like a copy of a fictional menu in the congressional cafeteria and a presidential board game are equally as comic. A drawing of the president’s Cabinet room, titled, “The Cabinet: Yes-Men of Freedom,” briefly explains Cabinet positions. The duties of the Secretary of Treasury are “primarily, concerned with, but not necessarily ‘all about,’ the Benjamins;” the room also boasts the last remaining Tab soda machine in the Western Hemisphere.

“America (The Book)” pokes fun at everything imaginable, including the corporate media, lobbyists, Thomas Jefferson’s possible affair with Sally Hemmings and Tom Delay’s gerrymandering of congressional districts in Texas.

The book is most definitely in the style of “The Daily Show.” Factual information is conveyed humorously, and the jokes range from crude to subtle. It’s a great way to be refreshed on the history of democracy in America as well as be informed about current politics.

The book takes the approach that the best way to get people to learn about something is to have them laugh at it, and it certainly succeeds.

Much like “The Daily Show,” the jokes are embedded enough in the material to be funny, but not so much as to be confused with actual fact.

Fictional quotes from past presidents and laws requiring ridiculous things are so obviously comic that it’s impossible to confuse reality with fictional material presented to crack a joke.

For a good laugh about democracy and the founding of America, which traditionally has been presented in a, well, boring manner, check out “America (The Book).”

“America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction”

By the writers of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”

Published by: Warner

Length: 240 pages