Academic Books
An examination of theory and conceptual models in public administration. Click here to go to Amazon.
My second book on education policy. Basically, this is a book-length argument that academic policy analysts are doing too much to fuel political conflict in education, and not enough to inform political debate. Click here to go to Amazon.
My first real scholarly book--it grew out of my dissertation. It caused a bit of stink and helped me get my first job. I cringe a bit when I read it now, though I think the main claims have held up pretty well. It's kind of hard to get your hands on a copy these days.Click hereto go to Amazon.com and find a fantastically overpriced hard copy.
Textbooks
A survey text on state and local politics. This book won a 2008 "Texty," the Oscar of textbook publishing. Unfortunately, there was no star-studded party to celebrate. Click here to go to Amazon.
I co-author "The Promise and Performance of American Democracy." This is a widely used introduction to American politics textbook beloved (or at least patiently suffered) by a generation of poli sci undergrads.Click here to go to Amazon. Also check out the review of this book, which I got a big kick out of (its by a student in one of my co-author's classes; she only gives the book three stars, but judges it to be "very neutral and demonstrates the facts very clearly" and all in all is "not that bad." High praise indeed from an undergrad about their intro text!
This is textbook written for introductory (freshman/sophomore)public administration courses. We wrote this in a deliberate attempt to come up with a user-friendly survey for non-poli sci and public administration majors. This has been my most frustrating textbook experience. The instructors and students who have used it have loved it. Both of them. Click here
if you want to join that crowd.Edited Volumes
I edit CQ Press' annual reader on the best contemporary articles on state politics and policy. Click here to go to Amazon.