Politics: the Starter Kit: How to Succeed in Politics and Government

by Jim Nowlan

Overview

This book is for persons new to politics and government, or who are interested in becoming involved. The goal is to provide “how to” guidance and lessons learned that can help you succeed in public life. This is a “starter kit.” I draw in part on my own career over half a century in Illinois and D.C.—as an intern; legislative staffer; state legislator; statewide candidate; senior aide to three governors of Illinois; state agency director on three occasions; campaign manager for a U.S. senator (successful) and presidential candidate (interesting); lobbyist; newspaper columnist, and professor (see bio sketch at back).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798823010207
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	06/21/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	78
File size:	442 KB

About the Author

Jim is a jack-of-all-trades in Illinois public affairs. He has been an Illinois legislator, statewide candidate, state agency director, senior aide to three Illinois governors, campaign manager for U.S. Senate and presidential candidates, professor, newspaper publisher and columnist. Jim received his BA, MA and PhD degrees in political science, with minors in economics, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Whenever kicked out of government or politics, Jim has taken refuge as a senior fellow at the University’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs. He has also taught in the American politics field at the U. of I. in both Urbana and Chicago, Knox College and Northern Illinois University. Jim has been a “foreign expert” (visiting professor) with the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai on three occasions. In China, Jim taught courses in American politics and public management. When in China, Jim gave invited lectures at major universities throughout China, including at Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou and Northwestern (Xian) universities. Jim is the author or co-author of eight books, including Illinois Politics (University of Illinois Press, 2010; under revision for a 3d edition, 2023) and Fixing Illinois (U. of I. Press, 2015). Jim recently completed a four-year term as member, then chair, of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission. Jim’s 400 newspaper columns and other writings can be seen at jimnowlan.net.

Editorial Reviews

2023-08-23
A starter kit offers advice for novices looking to enter the world of politics.

Nowlan has enjoyed a long and diverse career in politics—in 1968, at the precocious age of 26, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. Since then, he’s tried his hand at various jobs, including campaign manager, lobbyist, newspaper journalist, and college professor. In this slim volume—under 70 pages—the author aims to provide a basic introduction to the American political cosmos “for persons new to politics and government, or who are interested in becoming involved.” Nowlan clearly shares his considerable experience—he discusses the best entry points into politics for newbies, the general structure of political campaigns, and the path to becoming a successful lawmaker. In addition, he includes a discussion of lobbying that captures the informally anecdotal nature of his writing, which is both collegial and lightsomely self-effacing: “I was a terrible lobbyist. The game is not for everyone.” Nowlan’s book radiates an impressive depth of experience, and is brimming with sparkling aperçus. For example, he notes that given the diminishing power of political parties, candidates are desperate for volunteers, making this a uniquely fruitful time for young people to enter the fray. But the volume indulges in some banalities as well. When discussing the importance of ethics in politics, the author presents readers with an anodyne test of self-interest: “Think! Is there any dimension of a decision that could be seen by others to represent personal benefit at public expense, even indirectly? As a savvy political friend mused, ‘How would this decision be viewed by a grand jury?’ ” Yet the work’s principal failing is that it both does too much and too little—those looking for a toehold in political life hardly need a brief consideration on how to be the director of an agency, but they do require much more counsel regarding their first political steps. Given the vast scope and complexity of the American political landscape, Nowlan could have used a lot more pages to express his vibrant opinions. Readers will wish for a much lengthier and more systematic book that truly shares his deep reserve of experience.

An illuminating but uneven political guide.

Kirkus Reviews