Reviews (7)

Elegant Description of aTransformation in American Politics
This book provides an elegant description of one of the most important transformations of American politics: the end of the Dixiecrats and the transformation of the Solid South from the Democrats to the Republicans. He importantly connects this with the rise of the power of the caucus and leadership. It also has implications for the crisis of partisanship in Congress. REVIEW
From the Publisher: "Nelson Polsby has been studying, reading about and hanging around the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 40 years. In "How Congress Evolves", he provides the definitive--and often witty-account of how the House has changed over time, and why." Michael Barone, coauthor, "The Almanac of American Politics"

Polsby at his best
"How Congress Evolves" is elegantly written, cogently argued, and politically astute. Nelson Polsby gives his readers the benefit of four decades and more of immersion in and observation of Congress, along with his penetrating insights into politics, people, and institutions, and a writing style that is at once accessible and sophisticated. Novices and experts, students and practitioners, scholars and journalists, all will learn immensely about how the House of Representatives works and how it changes."--Norman Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Congress    3. Congress.    4. Government - Legislative Branch    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. History    7. House    8. Political Process - Elections    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. United States    13. United States.    14. Central government    15. History of specific subjects    16. Political Science / Congress    17. Political structure & processes    18. Politics | American Politics | Legislative Studies    19. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    20. USA   

Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Deterrence (Strategy)    3. Government - National    4. Military - Nuclear Warfare    5. Military policy    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. United States    12. War on Terrorism, 2001-    13. World politics    14. Defence strategy, planning & research    15. International relations    16. PREEMPTIVE ATTACK (MILITARY SCIENCE)    17. Technology / Military Science    18. Theory of warfare & military science    19. UNITED STATES_MILITARY POLICY    20. WORLD POLITICS_1989-   

Reviews (1)

Updated Improved Version, But Dropped Some Good Stuff

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Subjects:  1. Government - Executive Branch    2. Government - National    3. History    4. National Security Council (U.S    5. National Security Council (U.S.)    6. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    7. Political Process - General    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Sources    12. Central government    13. International relations    14. Political Science / International Security    15. Politics | American Politics | Foreign & Defense Policy    16. USA    17. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (84)

Unraveling The Web: A Journalistic Investigation That Brought Down A President
In 1972 the Democratic National Committee Headquarters was located in offices on the sixth floor of 2600 Virginia Avenue NW in Washington D.C.The building itself was part of a complex of hotel and office space and named for its location on the bank of the Chesapeak and Ohio canal: Watergate.On the night of 17 June 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into DNC offices, apparently to repair illegal wiretaps that had been installed on a previous occasion.Republican leadershipdisavowed any knowledge of the wiretap, ascribing it to excessive zeal on the part of marginal party members.And that might have very well been that--except that several reporters employed by The Washington Post found the entire escapade unexpectedly bizarre.Surely, they thought, there's a bit more to it than that.
A Tale of Two Journalists
It is hardly necessary for me to review All the President's Men by Bernstein & Woodward -- or "Woodstein" as they were collectively named by their editors. I think the book has already shown that it stands the test of time, and the gist of the story and the roles of the two authors in bringing about President Nixon's resignation are well known as history. Having seen and enjoyed the movie of the same title, I took the opportunity of the 30th year anniversary of the publication of All the President's Men to take up the topic afresh. I can whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who still believes that their government is always acting in the interests of its constituents.
Required Reading
This book and the newspaper reports it descibes literly changed my life.It also changed fhe view of all thinking Americans ofthe presidency and the press. We need a similar team today. Should be required reading in our schools. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1944-    2. Bernstein, Carl,    3. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    4. History - U.S.    5. History: American    6. Political History    7. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    8. Watergate Affair, 1972-1974    9. Central government    10. History / General    11. USA   

Reviews (3)

Jamieson lets readers in on the dirty side of democracy
Campaigning strategy has become the first and foremost informational tool citizens use to evaluate the political arena of today's democratic society. The problem that arises through this medium is that what the public see's, hears, and witnesses is not always factual. Campaign analyst Kathleen Hall Jamieson, presents a book in which this such topic is addressed. Arguing for fair, accurate, contextual, comparative, and engaged campaign discourse; Jamieson explains to her readers the proper way in which to objectively evaluate bias political paraphernalia. She provides insight in how to listen, read and watch political campaigns without becoming what she calls a "Pack Rat." According to Jamieson, "What is shown is not necessarily what is seen. What is said is not always what is heard."(Page 9) By reading this book carefully, one becomes familiar with how to evaluate a politician's agenda and how to successfully walk away with the `facts'. Jamieson sets her book up in four themes. First she talks about attack in political campaigning, past and present. She then goes on to discuss news broad cast and advertisement, continuing with news coverage of campaigning. She finalizes her thoughts by discussing the norms of discourse. By carefully calling to attention the usage of political sloganeering, manipulative television representation, and false `facts' to create a political figure; Jamieson exposes it all in Dirty Politics.

Engaging Arguments
As a professor of communication, I have enthusiastically used Kathleen Hall Jamieson's Dirty Politics as a text that makes sense of so much of what we see in nationally televised politics.Students invariably comeaway from reading Jamieson with a much deeper apprecation for politics--andwhat ails it.The strength of this text is in the attention to detail;specifically, Jamieson grounds her study in focus group research.And inthose instances where she doesn't utilize such research, her readings ofvarious televisual advertising is usually nuanced and insightful.The onedrawback to the text, one that Jamieson would perhaps actually endorse, isits elitism; that is, only certain sorts of elites watch the Lehrer NewsHour (to which she contributes frequently), and have the educational skillsto do the hard work of argument, engagement and debate that she so heartilyendorses.Politics isn't a spectator sport; in this text, Jamiesonencourages us to get up off the couch and actually engage--and thereby holdcandidates accountable for the discourse of Democracy.

This book is badly written.
Upon entering 1oth grade Honors Government and Economy, I was forced to read this book to enhance my summer project.Throughout reading this book I came to the conclusion that this was a poorly written book.AlthoughKathleen Hall Jamieson's book contains good thoughts, she uses anover-exceedingly amount of adjectives in the process of communicating herphilosophies.However, despite my distaste for her writing, Kathleen HallJamieson's book, "Dirty Politics", contains valuable informationand is a decent book for someone who enjoys researching the medias'influence on presidential campaigns. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising & Promotion    2. Government - National    3. Political Process - Elections    4. Political Process - Political Parties    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Advertising    9. Elections & referenda    10. Media studies    11. Political Science / Political Parties    12. Politics | American Politics | Elections, Public Opinion, & Voting Behavior    13. USA   

Subjects:  1. Political Science    2. Politics / Current Events    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Public Administration    5. Public Affairs & Administration    6. Textbooks    7. United States    8. Central government    9. USA   

Reviews (19)

How did this ever become a national bestseller?
This nonsensical bio is written entirely from a blind feminist perspective.The research is suspect.The prose amateurish.The details gossipy and contrived. If Eleanor Roosevelt was truly a woman of thought and progressivism, then Cook has done her an unforgivable disservice. If you're looking to understand Roosevelt's honest-to-goodness place in history, you will not find it is this intellectually offensive work.

Miserably bad
Eleanor Roosevelt is truly a fascinating character, but this book is absolutely painful to read.Cook makes references to topics before addressing them, makes characters difficult to follow, and generally botches what could be a great subject.Look elsewhere for Eleanor Roosevelt!

"...assertive, independent, and bold."
Eleanor Roosevelt's passions impress those who recall her later public image as a dowdy grandmother-type. No cracks about prominent teeth, please.Author Blanche Wiesen Cook does a commendable job of telling a familiar story from a fresh perspective.This book details ER's life from childhood to the beginning of her career as First Lady.The theme of the book is ER as "assertive, independent, and bold."As long as she lived by other people's expectations, ER was stifled.After she asserted her independence, she was happier and more successful."She feared rigidities," Cook asserts.She abhorred the judgmental absolutes that she thought contributed to her parents' problems and early deaths.ER aspired to walk in the humanist footsteps of her mentor and great teacher, Marie Souvestre.Intriguing questions of ER's private life remain unanswered because she destroyed many of her personal letters and papers.Her marriage to Franklin Roosevelt was mercurial, and the boundaries grew undefined.After 1918, a crisis year in their marriage, ER formed a number of associations with women social activists.She embarked in new directions, and tirelessly supported women's issues.Ironically, she opposed the 1920s version of the equal rights amendment because she felt it would remove protections that women enjoyed under the laws of that time.Woven through the tapestry of the narrative are questions of ER's love life.Her close working friendships with lesbian activists, at minimum, suggest Sapphic possibilities.ER's views of love and sex were nonconformist, and included men and women.Both Earl Miller and Lorena Hickock played special roles in her life.Cook writes of Eleanor Roosevelt as a three-dimensional woman of joy and sorrow.This book is an eye opening and enjoyable read.Highly recommended.;-) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1884-1962    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Historical - U.S.    7. Presidents & Heads of State    8. Presidents' spouses    9. Roosevelt, Eleanor,    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Women    14. Biography: political    15. Central government    16. Roosevelt, Eleanor    17. USA   

Reviews (5)

Old Rough and Ready's Story
This was a good read in that it described Zack Taylor's military carreer and political excursion thoroughly.The book does a good job of keeping interest in a less than interesting character.Taylor seems to be somewhat of a whiner throughout his military career, but he was a good soldier.The author's description of his campaigns in Mexico cause the reader to wonder why Taylor was hailed as a hero of the war, but since he was in charge, he got the credit.His political success wasn't any more impressive and we were fortunate to have such an able bodied politician/statesman in Fillmore to take over upon Taylor's death.I recommend this book to anyone interested in 19th century politics.

Highly Recomended
I have read a number of presidential biographies and this was one of the best organized and best written. The author breaks down Taylor's life into substantive themes. Now, I am NOT saying the Taylor is the most interesting president to study. I am saying, however, that this is one of the best books that you will find regarding biographies of presidents.

Decent book
It covers Taylor's military career in enough detail based upon the limited amount of information available. The reader can grasp an overall picture of the man. Probably not the most qualified man to ever be elected to president but an honest and able person. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Campaigns    5. General    6. Generals    7. Mexican War, 1846-1848    8. Presidents    9. U.S. President    10. United States    11. United States - Antebellum Era    12. Biography: general    13. Central government    14. USA   

Reviews (29)

Predictive, prescient and provocative
If you care about the future of Western civilisation and Judeo-Christian culture, this is a book for you. If you are puzzled, as I am, by some European leaders (e.g. Chirac) almost daily appeasements of fundamentalist Islamic governments and movements, this is a book for you. If you want a quick but not thin analysis of the malaises affecting Europe, then this book will give you reasonable satisfaction.
A Bite-Sized Intro to Modern European Cultural Crisis
After reading The Cube and the Cathedral (and also listening to Weigel present a lecture on the topic), it is quite clear that the major motivation for this study was Europe's omission of any reference to God or Christianity in the EU Constitution.Weigel is extremely distrubed that Europeans seem hellbent on denying their Christian cultural heritage, and so he examines some of the reasons for their seemingly irrational behavior.Weigel argues that this omission constitutes a deliberate identity denial, a "cultural amnesia," and is a sign that Europe is losing its cultural vivacity and becoming estranged from its historical roots.
Admirable presentation of the problems, less satisfactory solutions
Weigel's THE CUBE AND THE CATHEDRAL is a slim collection of brief meditations on the problems affecting Europe and some possible solutions. Weigel draws together the thoughts of Robert Kagan on geopolitics, and Joseph Weiler on the continent's Judaeo-Christian heritage, and is informed by the author's own experiences with Polish history.
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Subjects:  1. Catholic Church    2. Christian sociology    3. Christianity and culture    4. Christianity and politics    5. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    6. Europe    7. Government - National    8. Philosophy    9. Political Science    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    12. Sociology of Religion    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (4)

An exciting story of a forgotten chapter in American history
Dear Readers, the co-author and I have been thrilled at the positive response to the publication of MAVERICKS OF THE SKY, and while we understand that not every story is for every taste, we have to take exception with the comments of Mr. Carnett in his review of our book (in his first review on Amazon).
Bargain Bin Book
In Mavericks of the Sky, Barry Rosenberg and Catherine Macaulay present the daring and heroic tale of the first set of air mail pilots in the world.Mavericks of the Sky brings to life the many characters who risked their lives on a daily basis in order for the delivery of the mail.The pilots of the United States Air Mail conquered the impossible task of transporting cargo on a regular schedule through inhospitable terrain and weather.Unfortunately, an interesting topic becomes tedious due to poor writing and poor organization.
Covering the aces who both pioneered flight and linked the airplane to the US Air Mail Service
Any interested in the mail service and its origins must pursue MAVERICKS OF THE SKY: THE FIRST DARING PILOTS OF THE U.S. AIR MAIL: it highlights a nearly-forgotten piece of history in covering the aces who both pioneered flight and linked the airplane to the US Air Mail Service, from the inaugural New York to Washington DC flight in 1918 to the night flight which would make airmail a mainstay. These pilots were World War 1 aces who returned as heroes but wanted to translate their flying skills to civilian life: MAVERICKS OF THE SKY charts their course and their impact on today's mail services.
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Subjects:  1. Air Transportation    2. Air mail service    3. Air pilots    4. Aviation - History    5. Biography    6. Government - National    7. History    8. Transportation    9. U.S. Federal Government    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century (1900-1945)    12. History / General   

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

Subjects:  1. Europe - Baltic States    2. Government - National    3. History    4. History: World    5. Politics - Current Events    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Lebanon    8. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    9. Political Science / Government / National   

Subjects:  1. Evaluation    2. Evaluation research (Social ac    3. Evaluation research (Social action programs)    4. Expenditures, Public    5. Central government    6. Local government    7. Social Science / Research    8. USA   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Commodities    4. Corporations    5. Finance    6. Government - National    7. History    8. Investments & Securities - General    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Securities and Exchange Commis    12. Securities and Exchange Commission    13. United States    14. United States.   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Government - National    3. History & Theory - General    4. Philosophy    5. Political History    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    10. Political Science / General   

Reviews (23)

A peek at some presidents and first ladies
This book makes interesting reading, since it lifts the curtain slightly and gives us a peek inside the White House and Air Force One.In doing so, we're able to see some of our beloved presidents and their families as they really were when behind closed doors.A few of the resulting revelations may seem startling to some but all appear to be in line with the character of those being peeked upon.
You would've thought I country bumpkin wrote this book.
Johnson's part was hilarious. I was crying with laughter. But the rest of the book was boring, just a bunch of gossip. No juicy details. No funny lines. And definitely anti-Democrats.

Biased
This book looks to be an in-depth expose of the lives of presidents since Kennedy.However, it quickly turns into a anti-Democrat and Clinton-bashing book.Johnson is portrayed as a compulsive liar and serial adulterer and Carter is described as a disingenuous hypoctite.Reagan, on the other hand, is portrayed as a nice man who was a wonderful human being.While this may be true, it is worth noting that this is the same man who lied to the American people about his knowledge of the Iran-Contra scandal and who left office with the worst budget deficit and highest unemployment rate in American history.This man also declared war on the world power that is Granada and bombed that country back to the Stone Age.The auther seems enthralled by Reagan and repeatedly describes him as a great communicator (which he was) and a man who could make you feel good.Of course Reagan could do these things...he was an ACTOR!That is what actors do!The worst part of the book is the end.Kessler wrote this piece in 1995, just over 3 years into the Clinton presidenc.Yet, criticism of Clinton dominates the book and is almost 2.5 times as long as the chapters on Reagan, Johnson, and Nixon who each served over 4 years.Kessler condemns the press for not investigating Clinton's lies about his philandering and makes the case that since Clinton can't keep his Billy in his pants he is unfit to be president.If that were the ultimate judge of a man's ability to govern a country, most of the world's countries would be left without a leader.Also, U.S. presidents throughout history have had mistresses: Jefferson, Cleveland, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Roosevelt among others.The fact is this book does not reveal any bombshells about president's secret lives; all it reveals is Clinton's healthy extramarital sexcapades.Clinton-haters should love this book, though there are better books available on the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Politics / Current Events    3. United States - 20th Century    4. United States - General    5. Biography: general    6. Central government    7. Places & peoples: general interest    8. USA   

Reviews (35)

Simply Great!
In this volume, Colonel Fletcher Prouty captures both the secret history of the United States from 1945 to 1975 and the reasons behind the plot to kill President Kennedy.Herein, the courageous Colonel illustrates quite clearly that the clandestine history and the assassination plot were intrinsically linked.
America has Waited a Long Time to Hear the Truth...
Finally, those involved are getting old enough not to place concern about their own welfare above truth anymore.
Enthralling
If you are looking for a book for a by name list of "who done it" or who was shooting from what building, on what knoll, from what curb side drain, then this is not your book.
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Subjects:  1. (John Fitzgerald),    2. 1917-1963    3. Assassination    4. History - U.S.    5. History: American    6. Intelligence service    7. Kennedy, John F    8. Secret service    9. U.S. History - 1960s    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. United States - 20th Century/60s    13. Vietnam War, 1961-1975    14. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975    15. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    16. Biography: historical    17. Central government    18. USA    19. c 1960 to c 1970   

Reviews (3)

Great subject matter, great service
The book.. I'm using it for college, so it's not like I'm reading this for fun. I wouldn't buy it under reading for pleasure purposes... but for the purposes of education it is a great buy.

ted lowi
This is not a review. I'm trying to reach Ted Lowi. If anyone has ane-mail address, please contact me at Richjoansf@aol. or otherwise tell mehow to reach him. Thanks

Great details but not many pictures
If your expecting a book with many pictures, this is not the book for you. But it gives good details on changes since our country began.At thebegining of each chapter is a time line on what the chapter is about.Iwould recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. History & Theory - General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics and government    6. Politics/International Relations    7. United States    8. Central government    9. USA   

Subjects:  1. 510-30 B.C    2. Ancient - Rome    3. Ancient Rome - History    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Political History    8. Politics and government    9. Public Affairs & Administration    10. Public administration    11. Rome    12. Ancient Rome    13. Central government    14. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    15. History / Ancient / Rome   

Reviews (2)

Pavlichev and Garson
This book demonstrates the state of the art in digital government.Rather than writing about what e-government could be, the authors take a reasoned look at the topic.The book is therefore neither overly optimistic nor is it hand wringingly critical.The international dimension is handled nicely in several chapters that extend the analysis to countries outside the US. Solid contribution to the Electronic Government Literature
Pavlichev and Garson provide a beneficial and thorough treatment of electronic/digital government, examining technical, management and policy issues with both theory and practice. For both students and practitioners of electronic/digital government, Pavlichev and Garson offer an excellent overview of how we got here, where we are, where we want to go and the challenges along the way.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Electronics - Digital    3. Government & Business    4. Government - State & Provincial    5. Internet - General    6. Internet in public administrat    7. Internet in public administration    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Public Affairs & Administration    10. Technology    11. United States    12. Central government    13. Impact of computing & IT on society