Build a Better America

Read about innovative solutions to our country's problems and find out how together, we can restore, improve, and build a better America.

See other topics in Issues and Ideas

Smart Solutions for the Nation

Health care. Education. Good leaders. Engaged, active citizens. Strong families. Get inspired by big ideas to improve the country and find out how each and every one of us, in large ways and small, can make a difference for a better America.

America 2.0: The Upgrade

Fixing America's Schools
The New "Hire" Education
3 Schools Ahead of the Curve
Inside America's Math and Science Crisis
2 Schools, 1 Big Idea
Laura Bush on Education in America
See All in "Literacy & Education"

A Look at Army MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)

Thanks to innovative processing techniques, soldiers are eating better than ever.Read more about the army's culinary revolution.

8 People, Places and Things We Love About America

From amazing people and rich history to fabulous foodstuff and one-of-a-kind parades, check out some of what makes our country great.

What It Means to Be an American

Join our discussion about what it means to be an American and post your ideas and photos.

Best of America: Highway Helper

Stopping and helping others is this man's self-satisfying vocation.

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1Outrageous: Your Tax Dollars Bailing People Out
Who bails out homeowners after they build or buy in flood zones? You do.
2Reader’s Digest Global Presidential Poll
Read the methodology behind our international poll.
34 Ways of Looking at a Map
Maps can be for finding a direction or for surveying an area. Here are four that tell completely different things.
4Cattle Farmers Leave Millions Behind
Frugal Farmers Ish and Arlene Hatch left behind a secret fortune and enriched their community forever.
5Quick Study: The Facts on Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is on the front burner again. Here's what you need to know.
6Quick Study: Voting Machines
Do voting machines work as well as they should?
7America's Top 5 Cleanest Cities
From air to water to trash, Reader's Digest ran the numbers and the results will surprise you.
8Best American Adventure
After the sudden death of her fiancé, a woman heals through an epic journey.
9Book Bonus: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles
Why is Chinese food so all-American? One woman's delicious discoveries.

How to Install Granite Tile Kitchen Countertops
Granite tile gives you the appearance of a solid-stone slab at one-third the cost. We'll show you the techniques for a first-rate job.
6 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes
Bake a batch of any of these easy to follow recipes or just drool over the stunning Christmas cookie pictures.
How To Apply Epoxy Floor Paint To Your Garage
Step-by-step instructions for applying durable epoxy paint to your concrete garage floor.
How To Repair a Leaking Tub Faucet
Replace wornout parts in a bathtub faucet.
911 Calls Gone Tragically Wrong
Wrong addresses, dismissive dispatchers, and crossed signals. Our police response system is in crisis, and the cost can be measured in lives.

See More Polls

Where do you get your daily news?

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1 What do you love most about America?
Last post 11/05/2009, 11:26 PM EST, 33 posts.
2 Your Six-Word Love Life
Last post 10/19/2009, 10:48 AM EDT, 77 posts.
3 Give President Barack Obama Your Advice
Last post 11/06/2009, 4:08 AM EST, 97 posts.

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For America

Small enough to fit in your pocket, this powerful motivational book contains more than 120 simple actions every American can take to make our country a better place.

Read a sample from this book

More On Better America
Slideshow: 4 Ways of Looking at a Map
Poll: Where do you get your daily news?

Build a Better America

Read about innovative solutions to our country's problems and find out how together, we can restore, improve, and build a better America.

See other topics in Issues and Ideas

Smart Solutions for the Nation

Reader's Digest Around the World