Customer Reviews

Government by the People, National Version, 20th Edition

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(4)

 

 

The best features of this book include the charts which appear to have been all polled in new york state or california due to the leftist bias which makes me question the accuracy of any of the statistics. The thing that I liked least was the books negative attitude toward third parties which it attempted to emphasize as spoilers in political races. Besides that the side stories were interesting but of completely no use in showing how government works. The chapters were long and very repetative stating information several times as if it was new even though it had been explained several times before. The same examples were also used in many cases to explain different things. If you have a class with this book there is no point in reading the whole book. If you know nothing about political science you should read up to the last 4 chapters which are on rights and civil liberties this part is just common sense and can be largely opinionated.

I absolutely hated this book, it gave little factual information on the srtucture and founding of our government. The book also had an enormous left wing bias which is definately inappropriate for a college class. Instructors please find another textbook that is more interesting and deals with function and structure of government {if you want your students to read it ;) }

HORRIBLE BOOK!

Would have liked to have known there was more than 1 version of this edition with the same cover as my daughter informed me that I got the wrong one. Seems to work as is smaller and easier for her to carry to class. Was supposed to be a text to be used at home. Now its what she uses for class and uses the real one at home since that's where most of her studying is done.

After having spent a semester taking a class requiring this book, I definitely noticed a rather liberal-leaning bias throughout most of the text. One of the obligations of national government, as stated by the text, is its "matter of fact" attitude that more wealthy individuals owe it to "impoverised" people through literally "taking money from more wealthy states" and giving it to poor states. Give me a break, there is so much socialism and liberal drivel in this book it made reading it a headache.

Profs and teachers, PLEASE find something a little more objective than this textbook. Sheesh!!!

Apparently, the Fox Noise machine has cranked out a lot of negative reviews on Burns here. But ignore all that. The book is fine and well-balanced. Burns has long been a first-rate historian and political scientist and there's no reason to doubt that now. The negative reviews are from the Karl Rove crowd.

This book presents the issues in a twisted manner, and never teaches fundamental values. It does not discuss at all the Declaration of Independence, does not give nearly enough historical background and generally mystifies the foundations of American politics. The meaning and value of the Electoral College is not explained nor compared to the structure of the Senate and House. Well if that was mentioned it would tell too much. Instead you get the usual leftist posturing, "uh - it's so complicated - let us fix it for you". The misery of this book is most evident in the discussion of the First Amendment - it is declared contradictory. Of course their interpretation is contradictory but this is what they like, so this is what you get. Once a conflict is introduced, the familiar soap opera style takes over. If you are not into MTV this book is not for you. BTW, editions galore and the price is definitely not "for the poor".

The book was ok. I took it as a summer class, and there was too much information to be packed in this book. Some side issues were rather interesting, but I would not recommend it unless you are into political science. And I mean "into it".