We The People [Paperback]

Thomas Patterson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0073403865 | ISBN-13: 978-0073403861 | Publication Date: April 20, 2007 | Edition: 7

This concise yet comprehensive book provides a positive, lively, future-oriented narrative introduction to American government and politics. We the People presents material with a currency and relevancy that captures the vivid world of real-life politics. In addition, the text challenges readers to think critically; by giving contextual understanding of major concepts and issues, it encourages them to think about the implications for society and themselves. We the People delves deeper into the basics than most brief books, and each of the 17 chapters (including 3 policy chapters) concludes with a reading selection (each from a different paper around the country) and an extensive bibliography. The seventh edition has been thoroughly updated to capture recent developments, including the 2006 elections.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas E. Patterson is Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was previously distinguished professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University. Raised in a small Minnesota town near the Iowa and South Dakota borders, he was educated at South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, where he received his Ph.D. in 1971. Currently running the "Vanishing Voter" study at the Kennedy School of Government, which has been widely used in the media and on college campuses, Tom is also the author of six books and dozens of articles, which focus primarily on the media and elections. His book, 'Out of Order'(1994), received national attention when President Clinton said every politician and journalist should be required to read it. An earlier book, 'The Mass Media Election'(1980), received a 'Choice' award as Outstanding Academic Book, 1980-81. Another of Patterson's books, 'The Unseeing Eye'(1976), was recently selected by the American Association for Public Opinion Research as one of the fifty most influential books of the past half century in the field of public opinion. His current research includes a study of White House communication and a study of the news media's role in Western democracies. His work has been funded by major grants from the National Science Foundation, the Markle Foundation, the Smith-Richardson Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 7 edition (April 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0073403865
• ISBN-13: 978-0073403861
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read..., December 29, 2009

By 

Andrew A. Payton (Los Angeles, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: We The People (Paperback)

I am using this book for my political science course in college. It has not only explained things clearly, but it is extremely easy to read and understand. I knew a lot about politics before and after reading this book, I gained more knowledge and it will be used in daily life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, easy to understand book, May 3, 2010

By 

S. W. Leary "Ghost Girlie" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: We The People (Paperback)

This is a great book. I read it for my Pol 120 class in college and I was really impressed at how well it catagorized components. The Chapters were laid out logically with lots of visuals and examples. If you have to read a text the US Government, you should hope that it is this one.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative government book, w/out skimping, October 9, 2008

By 

A. Calph "A&J's momma" (Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: We The People (Paperback)

I liked this book. I didn't end up finishing it because I dropped the class, but as far as government books go - this is a keeper. It wasn't condescending or written without the 'bad' parts in our government. It was objective and a good read. Usually textbooks put me to sleep - this one did not.