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Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do And Why They Do It Paperback – January 30, 1991

by James Q. Wilson (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 158 ratings
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The classic book on the way American government agencies work and how they can be made to work better -- the "masterwork" of political scientist James Q. Wilson (The Economist)




In Bureaucracy, the distinguished scholar James Q. Wilson examines a wide range of bureaucracies, including the US Army, the FBI, the CIA, the FCC, and the Social Security Administration, providing the first comprehensive, in-depth analysis of what government agencies do, why they operate the way they do, and how they might become more responsible and effective. It is the essential guide to understanding how American government works.
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  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    January 30, 1991
  5. Dimensions
    5.38 x 1.38 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465007856
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465007851
  8. Lexile measure
    1460L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"May well be the best book now available on bureaucracy in America."―Paul Starr, The New Republic

"Wilson is our Weber and this is his summa ... A sprightly, irreverent and profoundly serious inquiry as to how you make a nation work."―Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan

"A gold mine of interesting, even unique observations about bureaucratic government on all levels."―Christian Science Monitor

"Immediately takes its place as the indispensable one-volume guide to American national administration."―Aron Wildavsky, Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Wilson is a remarkably clear thinker. It is unlikely that anyone in the foreseeable future will master so much research about so many agencies at the government level."―Tom Peters, The Washingtonian

About the Author

James Q. Wilson (1931-2012) was a professor at Harvard, UCLA, and Pepperdine University. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003, among numerous other honors. He is also the author of Moral Sense and Moral Judgement, among many other books.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; First Edition (January 30, 1991)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465007856
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465007851
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1460L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.38 x 1.38 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 158 ratings

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James Q. Wilson

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
158 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a good framework for understanding bureaucracy. It provides a detailed description of how it works and its causes. They find it clear to understand, easy to read, and well-written. Readers consider it worth the time and effort to study it.

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Knowledge levelComprehensionReadabilityValue for money
14 customers mention "Knowledge level"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book useful for studying bureaucracy. They appreciate the detailed description of how it works and its insights. The book is a good source of information, but it's mainly based in the US. Readers appreciate the concrete examples and observations about the state department.

"This book is a classic study of bureaucracies and is well worth the time and effort needed to try to understand bereaucratic behavior...." Read more

"It is a good source of information, however it is mainly based in the American bureaucratic experience, so the analysis cannot be generalized to the..." Read more

"...to be dreadfully dull but in fact it is a book about people, motivations, success and failure, about organizations dealing with war, education,..." Read more

"...Very detailed description of how bureaucracy works, why it may work so badly, and why it will always have its problems, no matter, which party or..." Read more

6 customers mention "Comprehension"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand and a must-read for dealing with beasts.

"...Really well written, and structured. Easy to read, easy to understand...." Read more

"...Also, gives a quite clear understanding of why you should never compare bureaucracy and the private sector!" Read more

"Great stories in the book to give the reader a better understanding." Read more

"Great reading material..." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They say it's well-written and structured.

"...Really well written, and structured. Easy to read, easy to understand...." Read more

"Wilson, as usual, writes amazingly well in this comprehensive book covering bureaucracies, how they operate, and why bureaucrats act the way they..." Read more

"You won't believe how easy this is to read. The title would have me look the other way. Who wants to read about bureaucracy?..." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well worth the time and effort needed to understand how bureaucracies develop and change.

"This book is a classic study of bureaucracies and is well worth the time and effort needed to try to understand bereaucratic behavior...." Read more

"...are created, and then how they develop and change, is very intresting...." Read more

"...time to get through and really get all the points, but it is worth the effort. Love this book." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Oisin
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Study of Bureaucracy
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a classic study of bureaucracies and is well worth the time and effort needed to try to understand bereaucratic behavior. Wilson does a good job with the parts of this topic I am most familiar with and their controversies. He is on target discussing the various armed forces positions on the close air support issue and correct about Navy community differences. He makes excellent points about the frequent comments that the military fights the last war with sharp rebuttals of this view. Some aspects of the book are relevant to current controversies. The consulate bombing in Libya is an outgrowth of his views of the importance of organizational culture in the State Department and its tendency to downplay security concerns. Anyone who wants to try to understand the differences between public and private sector actions and goals should read this book. It is rich in meaningful examples throughout the text.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Howard W. Cohen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading material
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent product and delivery
    Helpful
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  • Javier Calderón Abullarade
    4.0 out of 5 stars Local analysis, but a good start for understanding how bureaucracies work
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It is a good source of information, however it is mainly based in the American bureaucratic experience, so the analysis cannot be generalized to the entire world. But, it is useful to use his categories to try to explore different bureaucratic systems worldwide. Really well written, and structured. Easy to read, easy to understand. A must for anyone studying PolSci, Politics, Political Theory, Political Philosophy, History, and Public Policy and Government.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Dan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, insightful, fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I've worked with USAID for 20 years and my immediate research interest was narrow, but I found the stories and insights to be most very illuminating. You would think a book about bureacracy to be dreadfully dull but in fact it is a book about people, motivations, success and failure, about organizations dealing with war, education, poverty, justice, and other topics of vital social interest. For anyone working with public or private organizations, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. From first hand, I can tell you that the observations about state department are spot-on, really useful. How organizations are created, and then how they develop and change, is very intresting. This book is right up there with ..., I think that only Drucker is in the same rank.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Michelle Buehlmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on Bureaucracy ever!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have a master's degree in public administration and am working on a PhD in political science, so I have read a lot of stuff on government and bureaucracy/public administration. This is by far my favorite book! It is long and takes time to get through and really get all the points, but it is worth the effort. Love this book.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Andrey
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for everyone, who at least once ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A must read for everyone, who at least once in a life said: "Ahh, these damn bureaucrats!". Very detailed description of how bureaucracy works, why it may work so badly, and why it will always have its problems, no matter, which party or president. Also, gives a quite clear understanding of why you should never compare bureaucracy and the private sector!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Newsman78
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    Wilson, as usual, writes amazingly well in this comprehensive book covering bureaucracies, how they operate, and why bureaucrats act the way they do.

    He discusses the different organizational features that persist across all bureaucracies, and why it is that once a bureaucracy is created it's almost impossible to get rid of. This may pique your interest if you've been following the recent attempts to solve our intelligence problems by adding more layers of bureaucrats, as if that will somehow solve the problem.

    Highly recommended to all students of American politics.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Kori
    3.0 out of 5 stars ... lot of repetition but overall this reading gives a great framework for understanding specific
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A lot of repetition but overall this reading gives a great framework for understanding specific organizations
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • William
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really a great book and I gained a lot insight why government does certain things in certain way
    Reviewed in Canada on January 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Highly recommend
    Report
  • Robin Davy
    4.0 out of 5 stars The variations in "Beaurocray and how to render them effective.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Am stll reading this book together with others!
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars useful studying aid
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Not my usual choice of book, but necessary for the management course I am doing. Very useful for studying with explanations of theories etc.. Good to pick out the particular section you need.
    The book arrived within the time given, good packaging, would recommend seller.
    Report