The Almanac of American Politics 2000

by Michael Barone

Book Overview

How was the 1998 election different from all other elections? Not in party strength: Republicans and Democrats won almost exactly the same percentages of the vote and number of House seats as in 1996.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812931947
• ISBN13: 9780812931945
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
• Length: 1632 Pages
• Weight: 3.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.1" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The Bible of National Politics and Insight on State Politics

If you have an interest in American Politics, you must have this guide. The bio information, history, and comments alone on each Congressmen, Senator, and Governer alone make it must have. Plus information such as past election results, committee assignments and political ratings.Also, it provides political insight and backround on each state and congressional district itself. As I said, its a must read.

There's no better way to learn about our country...

... and her politics than by reading this book. Barone and Ujifusa's Almanac serves not only as "the Bible of American politics," providing a wealth of information on our Senators and representatives, but paints memorable portraits of culture and society in all of America's states and in each of our country's 435 Congressional districts. If you have read Barone's classic, Our Country, you will remember his thesis that culture, ethnicity and geography (rather than economic status) are the driving forces behind Americans' political choices. Barone's detailed sketches of individual American communities illuminate these geographic and cultural rifts. Better than any other work I've seen, the Almanac explains WHY the politics of San Francisco is different than that of rural Kansas or Appalachian Kentucky.

Great, detailed info

I have enjoyed several editions of this book. They make excellent references, for when you want some background on some congressman or Senator who is in the news, who you might not be too familiar with. The descriptions of the local districts are very interesting, and in cases where I am familiar with the districts, I have found the write-ups to be remarkably fair and accurate, written in a pithy "Zagats" style perhaps. The criticism of "bias" from other reviewers, I feel is unfounded. The authors do characterize the politicians tendencies, but that is key to the value of the book, they do not mock or poke fun, just inform. Only problem is that they should publish the new editions FASTER after the November elections. Since most incumbents are re-elected, they should, in my opinion, come out with new edition by Jan after Nov elections.

Awesome!

The Almanac of American Politics 2000 is simply amazing. It contains a lengthy essay about every single U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and Governor as well as an amazing amount of information about all fifty states. If you are interested in politics you MUST have this book. It is well worth the price!

very informative and a pleasure to read.

I have started to read the book cover to cover. Even though I haven't been to all 50 states, this book takes me there. It gives a detailed description of state and district politics that is easy to understand. The book is especially valuable now with all the elections coming up in 2000 - this is the most important time to be an informed voter.