“A masterly work.” (*)

Most Americans pay little attention to what is happening in their state capital until scandal or controversy erupts. This lively and informative survey of New York state politics offers students an inside view. The authors—an Albany-based political scientist, a former State Assembly member, and an expert on political blogging and networking as well as state politics—infuse their discussion of institutions and processes with the drama and significance of real power politics. The book covers recent political developments and electoral contests as well as all the basics, with an appreciation of the many paradoxes and dualities that distinguish political, social, and economic life in the Empire State.

For updates, links, and articles related to New York Politics: A Tale of Two States, 2nd ed., visit www.NewYorkStatePolitics.com.

Endorsements:

“The Schneier et al. book is comprehensive, covering the state's political history, constitutional structure, and political patterns. Most notably, it blends the insights of participants in New York politics into the academic analysis—making it by far the best text I ever used in my New York politics course. My students found it readable and informative, always stimulating interesting class discussions.” — Ken Sherrill, Hunter College (on the previous edition)

“A masterly work. ...Schneier and Murtaugh have written a citizen's textbook on one of the nation's most complicated political systems. It deserves to be widely read by scholars in American politics and should be required reading for all students in the Empire State. It will be ranked with the classic works of William L. Riordan, Joseph F. Zimmerman, Warren Moscow, Robert A. Caro, and Theodore J. Lowi.” — Perspectives on Political Science (on the previous edition) (*)