Top books

[brianh8]

Hey all,

 

I've got plenty of free time this summer and I'm looking to grab a few books and start reading more and more political science research (note I'm an undergrad in junior standing). I read the top journals quite frequently, but I'd like to also start building up my library before grad school as well as refining my own interests before the application process in the next few years.

 

My subfield is American and I have a particular research interest in ideology, voting behavior, campaigns/elections (turnout, mobilization, finance).

 

Any tips are appreciated, thanks!

[catchermiscount]

I'm not an Americanist, but my sense is that you can't go wrong with:

 

(1) The American Voter

(2) The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion

(3) Voice and Equality

 

That's a lot to chew on.

[polisci12345]

Those are a good start (especially the first two). Other possible titles to ponder:

The Macro Polity

Going Negative

Mobilization, Participation and Democracy in America

Anything that VO Key ever wrote

[PoliSwede]

In addition to reading books, I suggest that you look up some of the big names in a database like ISI, Proquest or Jstor. Find their most cited works, read them, and snowball from there if you find them interesting. This is a great way to collect articles/literature on topics that you find interesting. Pay attention to the number of cites since that gives you a hint of how much of an impact a specific work has had.

[Orlien]

Try Bartels, "Unequal Democracy"

I second coachrjc w/ NOMO - really can't go wrong with that one.

 

If you had a prof who taught a class on this subject (or even just any americanist you took a class from), you could email them and ask for reading recommendations.

[brianh8]

Thanks for all the help guys - appreciate it!

 

I've picked up The American Voter and NOMO for starters - in addition to the work of two of the Prof's (similar interests) I'll have next semester - always want to make a good impression! 

[catchermiscount]

Niemi and Weisberg also have a series of "Controversies in Voting Behavior" books with excerpts from bigger debates in the field.  Obviously you'll eventually want to read the entire articles, but it's well collected.  I think there's also a "Classics" series.

[wtncffts]

A couple things. First, in terms of  'classics' also look at the 'Columbia School' studies, which posited a model of vote choice to which the American Voter people were responding. Look up Berelson and Lazarsfeld, The People's Choice and Voting. Also, the 'updates' to the American Voter work: New American Voter and American Voter Revisited.