The tag line on the 'for Dummies' series of books is; 'Making Everything Easier!' and, I usually find that this is precisely what they achieve. British Politics for Dummies is no exception. If you are new to this series of books, do not be fooled by a cursory inspection: it is easy to assume that the information will be at the most basic of levels, and it is true that this is an excellent place to look for an answer to that question which you would be too embarrassed to ask elsewhere. This tome is a little more than that, however. It covers how the British system works, the history, the major parties and their antecedents, and even alternative voting systems. This latter item is a particular interest of mine and I found these explanations to be the clearest and most concise that I have encountered.

I particularly like the set up of the 'for Dummies' series; the books may be read from page one to the end, or dipped into at will. Every entry works on a stand alone level and is superbly indexed so, when you are ready to put your newly acquired knowledge to work, and wish for one last check that you have your facts correctly, the relevant section is located with ease.

This book would be ideal for someone with almost no previous knowledge of the subject but, equally has enough detail to make it a must for the expert upon British politics. Wherever you fall within this spectrum, I would heartily recommend 'British Politics for Dummies'. ( )

.
.
About The Author
Dedication
Contents At A Glance
Table Of Contents
Introduction
Part 1: The Basics Of Politics
1. Taking In The Political Universe
2. Understanding Why Politics And Politicians Are Important
3. Looking At Participatory Democracy
4. Examining Political Ideologies
5. Forming The British Political State
Part 2: Elections And Britain's Parties
6. Counting The Votes: Differing Electoral Systems
7. Voting Behaviour And Trends
8. Homing In On Political Parties
9. Piling On The Pressure Groups
10. Scrutinising Politics And The Media
Part 3: The Ins And Outs Of Parliament
11. Examining Britain's Constitution
12. Britain's Parliamentary Democracy
13. Gazing At The Summit: The Pm And Cabinet
14. Assessing Ministers And Civil Servants
15. Taking In The The Courts And Judiciary
16. Laying Bear Local Government And Devolution
17. Joining The Lawmakers: Becoming A Politician
Part 4: Politics Worldwide
18. Understanding Britain's Place In The World
19. Taking In The International Stage
20. Expanding Horizons: Europe And The Eu
21. Leading The Free World: Us Politics
Part 5: Parts Of Ten
22. Ten Great Prime Ministers
23. Ten Major Political Scandals
24. Ten Political Events That Shaped The Modern World
25. Ten Political Trends For The Future
Index ( )