Great Readings

This document consists of great books or articles on Public Administration. Some are here because there is a course covering the same material; some are just great books that you should read at some point in your career.

Once you have made it through most of the curriculum, knowing whether a book is worth your time will become easier. Or, if you are struggling in one of the courses, perhaps reading a book on the subject will help.

Introduction

Name Author(s)
Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do and Why They Do It James Q. Wilson
Mastering Public Administration: From Max Weber to Dwight Waldo Brian R. Fry and Jos C. N. Raadschelders

Public Policy

Name Author(s)
The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens Our Businesses, Childhoods Our Governments, and Warps Our Economies Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington
Showdown at Gucci Gulch: Lawmakers, Lobbyists, and the Unlikely Triumph of Tax Reform Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Alan S. Murray

Organizational Management

Name Author(s)
Thinking, Fast and Slow Daniel Kahneman
The Metropolitan Revolution: How Cities and Metros Are Fixing Our Broken Politics and Fragile Economy Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley

International and Development

Name Author(s)
The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution Francis Fukuyama
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor David S. Landes