Reviews (1)

Brainy prof painlessly debunks gridlock assumptions
I had very low expectations, to be sure. All said and done, however, this is a v. fine book, considering that my brother-in-law wrote it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Law    4. Law and politics    5. Legislation    6. Political Process - Political Parties    7. Political aspects    8. Politics - Current Events    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public    12. Separation of powers    13. United States    14. Jurisprudence & philosophy of law    15. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law    16. Political Science / Political Parties    17. Political structure & processes    18. USA   

Reviews (2)

What a mess
This book will never stand on its own.It attempts to introduce far too many ideas in too few pages.It's a lot like Cliffnotes.Used alone, the reader will be left with a skeleton of concepts and ideas...
Practical and Enjoyable
I've got the latest, sixth edition of this book, and I am very impressed. Relevant, well-organized, and very-well written, this book is a firt-rate primer for those interested in California politics. The book is written in the style I appreciate the most: to the point and matter-of-fact, without needless theorizing and editorializing.Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Civics & Citizenship    3. General    4. Political Science    5. Politics - Current Events    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics and government    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Civil rights    3. General    4. Government relations    5. Indians of South America    6. Indigenous peoples    7. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics and government    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Human rights    13. Latin America    14. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Government - State & Provincial    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations   

Reviews (7)

Great overview, quick read
Easy reading on the plane to immediately get smart on how the American government and the different branches work.

A reader
I used it as a secondary source in preparing for the CLEP in American Government.I found Cliffs QuickReview of American Government to contain the same information but much more concisely.If you want additional interesting tidbits concerning government then the Idiot's book is for you.However, if you are looking for a prep book for the CLEP exam then get the Cliffs book. Very Good For Clarifying Structure, A Guide For More Study
This simple book is excellent as an introduction to American civics.It begins with the development of our nation's constitution and progresses from there.While some of the areas don't go into enough detail (the Bill of Rights, for example) they do allow the reader to discern structure in our government and identify specific areas for further study. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Government - National    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics and government    7. Politics/International Relations    8. U.S. Government (General)    9. United States    10. Central government    11. Political Science / Civics    12. USA   

Reviews (3)

This book makes me want to hop the border to Canada
This book is truly awful.I don't know what her publisher was thinking by letting this book get out.The tone: Nasal.The language: Sociological jargon.The argument: Garbage.Save a tree and find something better.

Reframing immigration history
Mae Ngai's ambitious book compels historians and general readers alike to critically reassess traditional understandings of and approaches to U.S. immigration.Much of the histories on U.S. immigration and immigration policies have told a similar tale.The United States, the narrative goes, has been tainted by a long history of exclusion, a blight on the nation's democratic tradition that was only recently removed with the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965.Such a narrative not only reaffirms the myth of American universalism, but also consistently fails to produce any new critical knowledge about U.S. immigration and U.S. history.Impossible Subjects differs from these other works of immigration history in this important respect: it proceeds with the conviction that the United States was never a "nation of immigrants."
The legally constructed "illegal aliens"
IMPOSSIBLE SUBJECTS, written by Mae Ngai, is the best of recent books on the 20th-century American history of immigration. She reveals that the problem of "illegal immigrants," which has been regarded as one of the most serious problems since the late 20th century, is indeed a legal construction. According to the author, immigrants from Mexico were drawn into the U.S. Southeast because the Southeast political economy, especially agri-business, raised need for the massive wave of low-wage immigrant workers and at the same time defined them as the racially "foreign" people who were rendered alien to America, which was defined as the nation of Caucasians. What enabled the American Government and people to attach racialized foreignness to the Mexican immigrants (and, inevitably, American citizens of Mexican origin) were Immigration Acts, border policing, and discriminatory control of visas.Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Constitutional    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. History    6. History: American    7. Sociology    8. United States - 20th Century    9. 20th century    10. American History    11. American history: from c 1900 -    12. History / United States / 20th Century    13. Immigration & emigration    14. Law    15. Political Science and International Relations    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Decision making    3. General    4. History & Theory - General    5. Political    6. Political Science    7. Political psychology    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Psychology    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Political Science / General    12. Political science & theory   

Reviews (25)

I am gladdened that a somebody -a Somebody-minted this 21st c. concept
Fuller truly breaks ground here and starts the conversation by using real life examples to elucidate the tacit hierachy that shifts and blends and reverses itself as we go through our days in public and private. The concept at the core of all civil rights struggles is that each person , in a democracy- has a value equal to another- regardless of "rank" .There is a rare rare bird who can sidestep the ego and see through the illusions of power that we have created for ourselves. I am looking forward to the author's second book, "All rise"

Rank and Servant-leadership
The purpose for writing this book, the author told us in a foreword, "is to break the taboo on the subject of rank, and reexamine the prerogatives that accompany status in relations between individuals, groups, and nations" because "many of the difficulties we face in personal relationships, schools, and the workplace stem from the misuse of power associated with rank" (p. xix).Bertrand Russell "called power the fundamental concept in social science, `in the same sense in which Energy is a fundamental concept in physics'" (Burns, 1978).
ONE OF THE MANY PINK ELEPHANTS IN SOCIETY
I read this book while completing a leadership training program in New York City.How fortunate to discover this book and to be able to share it with my colleagues as we were being inculcated to the unspoken and sometimes quite obvious disease of RANKISM. Rankism is about folks who cannot help or keep themselves from either feeling shamed and/or needing to shame others in the work place...but in artful, skillful and, unfortunately socially "acceptable" ways.It's also about how systems and cultures will deny rankism and/or explain it away by pointing to the inevitable way that people react around power.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Multicultural Education    4. Psychology    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Sociology - General    8. United States - 20th Century    9. Education / Multicultural Education    10. Human rights    11. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (1)

goog intro book
The book is very simple in its language. It explains the main characteristics and players of the American Government. Being an American Government book, its language and tone are very patriotic and optimistic. I would not recommend this book to a person who already disagrees with the government and is already informed about the basics; however, if you keep asking yourself, why did he do that, this book is for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations   

Reviews (1)

Great Reference Source
As a teacher who prepares high school seniors for the AP Government and Politics exam, I found this to be a quick, concise, yet comprehensive guide to the major/minor aspects of the US Government.Makes a great stepping stone to further research by virtue of the end notes that accompany each entry.As usual, OUP does it again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Encyclopedias    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics and government    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Reference    9. U.S. Government (General)    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. Political Science / Government / General    13. Political structure & processes    14. Politics | American Politics    15. USA   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics and government    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Textbooks    8. United States    9. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    10. Political Science / General    11. USA   

Reviews (3)

Politics in America, National Version by Thomas R. Dye [Hardcover]
I am well satisfied with the purchase of this book, Great seller and price.

good overview of government, though a bit biased
Overall this book is a good overview of the american political system. The structures of the beurocracy, executive, congressional, and judicial branches are covered very thoroughly. However, I found that the author inserted a bit too much of his own Republican biases in it. There is a whole section devoted to "government waste" - a common election tactic by Republicans. While it is true that the government is wasteful- all beurocracies are to some extent- a recent survey showed the US gov't to be the 3rd most efficient in the world. Also, sprinkled throughout the book are convinient three paragraph long and very shallow "Counterpoints" which try to convince readers of republican principles from the flat tax to the abolition of affirmative action. The most egragrious offenses come in various profiles "people in polics" of various leaders in politics. Invariably, the Republicans profiled have their personal strengths asserted with a folksy charm, while the Democrats are given a far away overview as well as mention of some trivial personal faults (Barbara Boxer's overdrafts from the House banks- a trivial issue in the big picture of things- is in her bio). And of course there are also the "Liberal ratings" in it- with the late Paul Wellstone topping the list. In addition to all of this, the general wording of the book and word choice used betrays the clearly Republican biases of the author. Overall the book is not a bad book, it does a good and thorough job at outlining the structure of the federal government, however, reader beware of the biases of the author.

Good introductory-level textbook.
I just finished taking a class called "Introduction to AmericanPolitics" and this was our only textbook.I found the textbook to beeasy to read, clearly written, and factually accurate.I fear that manystudents, like myself, who have already studied some in this area may findthe book to be too simplified, and will get bored reading about the basicsof material which is already familiar to them.The book is great for thenovice, but is definitely not upperclassmen material. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics and government    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Texas    8. United States    9. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics and government    6. Politics/International Relations    7. United States    8. Political Science / General   

Reviews (3)

Perfect for Homeschooling
We used this textbook with the accompanying teacher's guide and student activity book for a home school high school American Government class this past school year. This text was easy to understand, dealt with the most essential information, was very interesting and held the interest of the students. None of them ever complained the text was boring or unpleasant. The activities book provided good ideas for additional expanded projects and research. I think all the kid's had great fun and I sure learned an incredible amount teaching this class and using this resource.

point of view from a student...
As a student, I really enjoyed how this book is very detailed, yet to the point, and also the lightness and small size of it. I learned a lot from it, and didn't have a boring time at it either.
One of the Best
American Government: A Complete Coursebook is a great resource book.I know, as a student, that you can find a lot of topics in this book that aren't even touched upon in any ordinary textbook.This is a wonderful resource, especially for Economic, Legal, and Political Systems (ELPS) students, and U.S. History students.From the definition of "bill", to 105+ Supreme Court cases, this book has found almost all of the information I have needed.Maybe, it will work for you or your student too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Politics / Current Events    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Civics & Citizenship    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics and government    7. Social Science - Politics & Government    8. United States    9. Civis    10. Political science    11. Study and teaching    12. Study and teaching (Secondary)   

Reviews (2)

Required reading for any US citizen
I saw Benjamin Barber on PBS late July 2004, and checked out this book from the local library. One essay alone "Civic Mission of the University" should be required reading for anyone involved in education; student, parent, teacher, or just taxpayer.
interesting but not always satisfactory
This white male author seems to be unable to contextualize the sufferings and enslavement of Women and Minorities. His self-congratulatory pose as someone who wants "his" country to be better is offensive to those of us on the front lines combatting the patriarchal eurocentricparadigms in this country. Perhaps if he were to better acquaint himselfwith the incredibly courageous writings of bell hooks and Luc Irigaray, hemight better articulate the sufferings of those who have been marginalizedby white males. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Democracy    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Philosophy    5. Political    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Politics / Current Events    8. American History    9. Political Philosophy    10. Political Science / Democracy    11. Political Science and International Relations    12. Political structures: democracy    13. USA   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Political Process - Political Parties    3. Political Science    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics and government    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Textbooks    8. United States    9. Political Science / General    10. Political science & theory   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Elections    3. General    4. Legislative bodies    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Presidents    9. Separation of powers    10. Political Science / General    11. Political structure & processes   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Government - State & Provincial    3. Local government    4. Political Science    5. Political planning    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Texas    9. Textbooks    10. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Government - General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. International Relations - General    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    8. Political Science / International Relations    9. USA   

Reviews (33)

dern good
I aprove of this here paper binding cuz it's good for beatin the henderson boy who lives of the other side of our compound when he listen's to that thar hippity-hop music or whatever it is.Chuck Danieels is doing our land a service by standing up to liberals, commies, and the trilatteral commision.I hope is next book of learning squiggles confronts the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.THem shady folks have been reading my mind with them sattelites for tooo long.

How does he keep track of all the people he hates?
He seems to have more love for land than the people that live on it. And there doesn't appear to be any logic behind his hate. He just hates people because they are not exactly the same as he.

He likes NASCAR?What a shock!
If wrapping yourself in the flag was all it took to be a great patriot, Daniels would win the "Patriot Of The Year" award hands down.Its great we live in country where people can express their views (no matter how extreme) and not have to worry about reprisal.Yet, after reading through this book I get the feeling Charlie Daniels is more interested in making America conform to his arbitrary standards, rather than embracing the concept of a truly free society which our flag represents.I feel Mr. Daniels totally misses the point of the flag by going on a one-sided tirade, dismissing his political opponents as freedom-hating anti-American infidels.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1970-    2. American national characteristics    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Political Issues    4. Civics & Citizenship    5. Civilization    6. General    7. National characteristics, Amer    8. National characteristics, American    9. Patriotism    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. United States    14. United States - General    15. Biography & Autobiography    16. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    17. Social Science / Popular Culture    18. USA