California Politics and Government: A Practical Approach (Guide to Science Teaching Series.) [Paperback]

Larry N. Gerston (Author), Terry Christensen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0534617409 | ISBN-13: 978-0534617400 | Edition: 7

CALIFORNIA POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT provides a concise yet thorough overview of California's complex political system. This brief "nuts and bolts" treatment uses contemporary examples that are both appealing to read and illustrative of complex principles. The text includes coverage of such major issues as the economy, education, and immigration, and discusses the impact of these issues on California politics. In addition, the text integrates public policy coverage throughout the text, instead of consigning it to one chapter - keeping students focused on the practical effects of legislation and other government activities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Gerston is probably the best brief overview of California Politics and Government on the market today, benefiting from the long tenure of its two authors in the classroom where the real work of teaching is done."

"The Gerston text is better written, presents more nuanced material, and confronts the realities of state politics more effectively than [the competition]."

"I like it because it is clearly written, and the chapter intros, tables and figures present the critical information. The chapter intros do an excellent job of setting up the presentation of material, telling the students what is important and why."

"A lucid, well organized, and interesting account of California government and politics."

"It is the gold-standard for California politics." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Larry N. Gerston is a professor of political science at San Jose State University. His work experiences include stints for a Los Angeles county supervisor and a California assembly member. Gerston has served since 1980 as the political analyst for the NBC-affiliate in the Bay Area. In addition, he writes a monthly column, "Up Front" for San Jose Magazine.

Terry Christensen, professor and chair emeritus of the political science department at San Jose State University, teaches and writes on California state and local politics. A longtime political activist, Christensen has worked with a wide variety of community organizations and political campaigns and has served as a delegate to the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council. He was selected San Jose State University's Outstanding Professor for 1997–1998.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 7 edition (December 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534617409
• ISBN-13: 978-0534617400
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,470,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Enjoyable, May 7, 2002

By 

unraveler "unraveler" (Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: California Politics and Government (Paperback)

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.

This is not an ordinary textbook. It is not boring or pedantic. Gerston and Christensen present a fascinating panorama of California politics. The book has ten chapters, each of which contains valuable insights and interesting details. The authors completely succeeded in presenting factual information, including tables and graphs, in a way that does not overwhelm the reader or make him want to skip over these things. This masterful integration of factual information into the flow of the narrative makes the book truly enjoyable.

I have a Ph.D. in Political Science; and I rely on information from this book when I get ready to lecture on California politics in my American Government and Politics course in the college I teach. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get acquainted with California politics. And even advanced students of the subject, will find the up-to-date information in this book a valuable tool for understanding California's politics and society. Pick up this awesome resource today.

4.0 out of 5 stars Alright, July 29, 2010

By 

Dresdenfan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Custom Enrichment Module: California Politics and Government: A Practical Approach (Paperback)

I have no complaints over the book. I did not use it very much but was helpful when I did.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What a mess, October 2, 2004

By 

Shazam's Pimped RV (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: California Politics and Government: A Practical Approach (Guide to Science Teaching Series.) (Paperback)

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...

The book is a muddied introduction to the organization, history, and sociology of the state. Ideas are dumped, not explained. Half of the names appear in only one sentence. It left me unable to remember or care about some of the 50+ names. Sections are seldom coherent.

I ended up using the TOC to draw up my own organized outline. I filled in the pertinent details using wikipedia and ca.gov. And I paid attention to the newspaper. It worked much better.