Word-Hoard

"Superbly concise and informative."—William Schneider, The New York Times Book Review

"Witty and instructive."—Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., Washington Post Book World

"[Polsby's] brief but important book does not pretend to be exhaustive, but succeeds admirably in offering some cautious conclusions and indicating lines of further inquiry. . . . It is a valuable attempt to open up an unduly neglected area."—Steve Reilly, Political Studies

"An excellent piece of work. . . . I wish someone had thought of such a book before. It makes learning the basic vocabulary of Old English, especially of the poetry, an adventure in ideas, adding in short compass the fascination of etymology and even semantics to the otherwise laborious and at first crude efforts required to understand the texts. The necessary refinements must be acquired more slowly by study of the words in their various literary contexts."—John C. Pope

"This book will have a significant impact in restoring the links between politics and public policy. It's safe to say that our understanding of both of these subjects will never be the same again."—Francis E. Rourke, Department of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University

"Accomplishes an impressive feat. He shows us how to compare major policy issues without getting bogged down in substantive detail or theoretical superstructure. The cases are well chosen—each raises issues of lasting importance. The book is good for the policy scholar and good for the classroom."—Charles O. Jones, University of Virginia

"Polsby offers afresh and typically penetrating analysis of the genesis and incubation of innovative policy ideas, their selection and advocacy by political actors, and their legitimation as adopted policies. He superbly demonstrates the creative capability of the American political system and sensitively explores the conditions for its exercise."—James W. Fesler, Cowles Professor Emeritus of Government, Yale University

"Most social scientists are tempted to choose between the reductionist approach of the systematic analyst and the synthetic approach of the historian. But for even a dim comprehension of politics one must try to combine the two, and Nelson Polsby's Political Innovation in America is one of the best recent efforts to meet this challenge. I found especially fascinating his interpretation of the way in which technological innovation makes for slowness in policy adjustments—especially in a complex democratic society."—Don K. Price, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University