IR, 2014 Edition (with CourseMate Printed Access Card) (New 1st Editions in Political Science)
The writing style is the best I've come across--very engaging and easy to read. I think the students will like this book. . . . It is becoming clear to me that the writing style is going to be one of the most important reasons why I might adopt this book. It's truly engaging in bringing in examples, flowing nicely, and in almost having a conversation with the students."I would argue that the level of detail this new text presents is superior. It effectively addresses the major theories of international relations in [an] approachable way. Student understanding of international relations will benefit from the depth and explanatory detail included in this text."I know these authors, and I know that they're solid scholars and very student-oriented teachers. Thus, I'm interested in viewing their product. I've reviewed several IR texts over the last few years, and none has given me enough to change how I currently teach the course. If these guys live up to their potential, I expect them to produce a superior product than that which is currently on the market."[IR's] major advantage is its emphasis on current events and anecdotes that will help the students 'get' the concepts. . . . If it will save the students money and facilitate their learning and discussion, it is the best book available on the market. . . . This book has all of the information a good international relations text should contain. It clearly describes the paradigms and nuances of both realism and liberalism, and their modern-day rivals Marxism, constructivism, and Feminism. All of these concepts are clearly identified in a well-written, conversational manner, using frequent current event examples to engage students. It is also fairly concise and inexpensive, contains numerous resources both for the instructor and for students, and is not overly verbose. . . . I have been hard-pressed to find a comprehensive book for the course that offers students a glimpse into the different ways of looking at world events, and this is likely it."I think the clarity of writing style and coverage of crucial content are what differentiate this book from others on the market. This is one of the better titles I have looked at for a freshman-sophomore audience. The coverage of theory is comprehensive and clearly written but grounded in examples that speak to students' knowledge and interests. The introduction and theory chapters set this apart from the Rourke text I currently use.