British Politics For Dummies
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £2.50
Trade in British Politics For Dummies for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £2.50, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Plus, get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
′Written with clarity and brevity, it tells you all you need to know about voting…You know it makes sense…′ (The Independent on Sunday, March 2010).
Product Description
So – you want to be knowledgeable about British politics but don′t know where to start. The rich history, complex statistics and tricky political jargon are getting in your way, not to mention the media hype (is politics only about duck houses and moats?). But don′t worry! British Politics For Dummies is your essential guide to understanding even the trickiest questions surrounding politics in the UK, so you′ll be discussing the ins and out of leaders, parties, ideologies, constitutions, laws, cabinets and summits past and present in no time – and with maximum confidence. Coming up to the potential end of Labour′s historic three terms in power, there′s never been a better time to get to grips with politics.
British Politics For Dummies includes:
Part 1: The Basics of Politics
Chapter 1: Taking in the Political Universe
Chapter 2: Understanding Why Politics and Politicians are Important
Chapter 3: Looking at Democracy & Participation
Chapter 4: Examining Different Political Ideologies
Chapter 5: Forming of the British Political State
Part 2: Elections and Britain′s Parties
Chapter 6: Electoral & voting systems
Chapter 7: Voting Behaviour & Trends
Chapter 8: Honing in on Political Parties
Chapter 9: Pressure Groups
Chapter 10: Politics & the Media
Part 3: The Ins & Outs of Parliament
Chapter 11: Britain′s Constitution
Chapter 12: Examining Britain′s Parliamentary Democracy
Chapter 13: Gazing at the Summit: the PM and Cabinet
Chapter 14: Ministers & Civil Servants
Chapter 15: The Courts & The Judiciary
Chapter 16: Laying Bear Devolution & Local Government
Chapter 17: Joining the Lawmakers: Becoming a Politician
Part 4: Politics Worldwide
Chapter 18: Understanding Britain′s Place in the World
Chapter 19: Taking in the International Stage
Chapter 20: Expanding Your Horizons: Europe
Chapter 21: Leading the Free World: US Politics
Part 5: Parts of Ten
Chapter 22: Ten Significant Prime Ministers
Chapter 23: Ten Major Political Scandals
Chapter 24: Ten Events Which Formed the Modern Political World
Chapter 25: Ten Political Trends for the Future
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
A passable overview of the subject, though as others have mentioned it is very basic but that's the nature of the Dummies series: bite-size chunks of generalisations
I think this would be useful for foreign students who want a basic start in Democracy UK and with an eighteen page index most subjects are covered.
I did find it lacking in one area: taxation and finance. Perhaps the author didn't want to get involved in a subject that is very changeable from one administration to the next but I think it's an important issue because so much of what any party says and does has some financial implications. No one wants to be perceived as the taxation party so a whole range of revenue strategies are created to give the impression that taxes will always be lower, so vote for us. The index had no PFI, Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer and taxes only get two references each.
I know it's a minor point but I find the Dummies presentation very old fashioned looking. Having created the layout style years ago the publishers seem reluctant to update it. The main heading type (probably called Dummies Bold Italic Script) really looks like something from the Fifties. The one wide column per page, margin icons and the ticks to indicate important bits of copy all need a thorough makeover. The covers are really stuck in a well-worn rut.
I think this would be useful for foreign students who want a basic start in Democracy UK and with an eighteen page index most subjects are covered.
I did find it lacking in one area: taxation and finance. Perhaps the author didn't want to get involved in a subject that is very changeable from one administration to the next but I think it's an important issue because so much of what any party says and does has some financial implications. No one wants to be perceived as the taxation party so a whole range of revenue strategies are created to give the impression that taxes will always be lower, so vote for us. The index had no PFI, Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer and taxes only get two references each.
I know it's a minor point but I find the Dummies presentation very old fashioned looking. Having created the layout style years ago the publishers seem reluctant to update it. The main heading type (probably called Dummies Bold Italic Script) really looks like something from the Fifties. The one wide column per page, margin icons and the ticks to indicate important bits of copy all need a thorough makeover. The covers are really stuck in a well-worn rut.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
My first "For Dummies" book was about the DOS computer operating system nearly twenty years ago - and I found it really helpful! Since those days the range of subjects covered has increased to over 1,700 and they provide a good understanding of their subjects - and they are certainly not just for Dummies; a reference for the rest of us, is the Dummies byline.
Journalist Julian Knight provides an interesting and timely background to British Politics in his Dummies book which may prove useful in the run up to this years General Election. I was pleased to be offered this book to review as my eighteen year old is always bemoaning the fact he was not taught anything about politics at school and is looking forward to casting his first vote in May. He has found this book to be invaluable in providing a good level of background information about the whole subject, and for helping him to ask the right questions regarding his family members' political persuasions!
Amazon have provided a really good Product Description of this book which outlines in great detail how the subject is covered and should give you a good idea of the books appeal to you - or not! British Politics for Dummies is a book of politics now, and although it may still be of some interest after the General Election when all the "excitement" has died down, it is best read beforehand when a lot of its content is more relevant.
Quite a difficult book to give a star rating as its appeal will decline a bit with the passage of time. If you can read it before May 6th then you will get the maximum benefit and I would say five stars; as the election fades into history so will some of this books content so then I could only give three stars. For now I will compromise and give British Politics four stars.
Journalist Julian Knight provides an interesting and timely background to British Politics in his Dummies book which may prove useful in the run up to this years General Election. I was pleased to be offered this book to review as my eighteen year old is always bemoaning the fact he was not taught anything about politics at school and is looking forward to casting his first vote in May. He has found this book to be invaluable in providing a good level of background information about the whole subject, and for helping him to ask the right questions regarding his family members' political persuasions!
Amazon have provided a really good Product Description of this book which outlines in great detail how the subject is covered and should give you a good idea of the books appeal to you - or not! British Politics for Dummies is a book of politics now, and although it may still be of some interest after the General Election when all the "excitement" has died down, it is best read beforehand when a lot of its content is more relevant.
Quite a difficult book to give a star rating as its appeal will decline a bit with the passage of time. If you can read it before May 6th then you will get the maximum benefit and I would say five stars; as the election fades into history so will some of this books content so then I could only give three stars. For now I will compromise and give British Politics four stars.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
*Update* I think I may have been a little harsh in my review below. I was a bit peeved at the beginning of the book when the term 'General election' was transposed with 'Parlimentary election' which I think could be confusing. Also some sentances were too long. The connection between a constituency and its 'seat' in parliament, and the fact it may or may not be a 'cabinet' seat should be really easy to explain but I didn't feel it was. This was a fundamental point which should have been cleared up at the beginning of the book.
However, the broad topics covered are presented well overall. Just this evening Mr Portillo was talking about Athenian politics on the telly; I would never have known what he was harping on about if I hadn't read this book.
So I've awarded it another star.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This book covers a lot; as well as British politics it also compares our systems with those around the world and explains the EU, NATO, and UN including the Security Council.
But I didn't find it as explicit as it should have been. The 'Speed of light trip' around the basics of politics in chapter one didn't deliver what it promised and I found it too rambling, not to the point and not basic enough for the average pleb to take in. Some more charts or diagrams would have helped.
I still had to refer to Wikipedia to clarify some points as well as resorting to that other resource... asking my Dad! This was mainly down to ambiguous language used in the text.
I would say that the book could have covered even more within its 400-odd pages if it cut down on the waffle and unfunny (in my opinion) humour.
The individual roles of each Secretary of State is not really explained whereas a government poster I found online listed them all out along with their responsibilities.
Seeing as so many people are turned-off politics because they don't understand it or feel it seems too complicated and boring, it is a great shame that this book isn't really a true 'Dummie's Guide'. If this IS a dummie's guide then perhaps I should have been reading the cretin's guide.
To its credit, it does very much cover 'real world' aspects of politics ie. the media, spin doctors, voters' apathy etc.
Pretty good overall but shouldn't worry about being patronising and really should be aimed at the political ignoramus.
[My Ref: Dummy Politics 22.03]
However, the broad topics covered are presented well overall. Just this evening Mr Portillo was talking about Athenian politics on the telly; I would never have known what he was harping on about if I hadn't read this book.
So I've awarded it another star.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This book covers a lot; as well as British politics it also compares our systems with those around the world and explains the EU, NATO, and UN including the Security Council.
But I didn't find it as explicit as it should have been. The 'Speed of light trip' around the basics of politics in chapter one didn't deliver what it promised and I found it too rambling, not to the point and not basic enough for the average pleb to take in. Some more charts or diagrams would have helped.
I still had to refer to Wikipedia to clarify some points as well as resorting to that other resource... asking my Dad! This was mainly down to ambiguous language used in the text.
I would say that the book could have covered even more within its 400-odd pages if it cut down on the waffle and unfunny (in my opinion) humour.
The individual roles of each Secretary of State is not really explained whereas a government poster I found online listed them all out along with their responsibilities.
Seeing as so many people are turned-off politics because they don't understand it or feel it seems too complicated and boring, it is a great shame that this book isn't really a true 'Dummie's Guide'. If this IS a dummie's guide then perhaps I should have been reading the cretin's guide.
To its credit, it does very much cover 'real world' aspects of politics ie. the media, spin doctors, voters' apathy etc.
Pretty good overall but shouldn't worry about being patronising and really should be aimed at the political ignoramus.
[My Ref: Dummy Politics 22.03]
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent
Loved this book. Very easy to understand yet pushes you to think. Love the fact that you can pick and choose which section to read if you want to explore certain aspects more than... Read more
Published 4 days ago by JemmaAnn
A* fast, amazing value for money
Great lay out, perfect introduction to a new subject or building on a subject of interest. information is broken into bite size peices. recomended
Published 1 month ago by leah3113
Really good
As always, with this series, I'm really impressed. Here we have quite a conservative subject, and yet I find the book fun and interesting to work through. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Laura Smith
INFORMATIVE
I wanted a broad explanation of politics so looked at the Dummies series. I was not disappointed, the book is written in a serious way but brings the subject out in an easy manner. Read more
Published 15 months ago by sw brooke
Yet another 'Dummies' book
The Dummies books are fairly ubiquitous, and while they're not always the best text books in the range, they're usually worth a go. 'Text-book textbooks', if you like. Read more
Published 20 months ago by J. P. Ellison
About as accessible as politics can be
Given that British politics has evolved over centuries and applies to virtually every aspect of our lives, writing a book that covers even the basics in an accessible manner was... Read more
Published 22 months ago by M. D. Harris
Useful and clear.
Written in the well-known and popular 'Dummies' Style, this book gives a decent explanation of how the British political system works. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Z. Herbert
British Politics for Dummies
`British Politics for Dummies' was released in time for the 2010 UK general election and offers up a good introduction to some of the basic ideas of British politics for those who... Read more
Published on 29 May 2010 by Spider Monkey
A nice basic book on politics.
Well, the book itself is the same as all other 'for Dummies' books, thick and very lightweight. With its instantly noticeable garish yellow cover. Read more
Published on 20 May 2010 by r2uzenblot
Very useful especially with the recent politics
This book has come in very useful for both my wife and myself especially with the recent political situation and election. Read more
Published on 11 May 2010 by Silverfrog
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
