Morris P. Fiorina

Can We Talk? The Power and Influence of Talk Shows explores the talk show genre and how it affects society. Dr. Scott, a noted expert on social issues and a sometime radio talk show host, provides a savvy overview of how and why today's talk shows and their hosts have become so controversial, compelling, and powerful (especially if they own part or all of their own show). The first half of the book focuses on radio talk shows, the second on television talk shows. These two sections start with detailed histories of how talk shows began with the birth of each of these media over a half century ago. Subsequent chapters highlight the big movers and shakers in these arenas, with brief looks at how top hosts, e.g., Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Larry King, Howard Stern, David Letterman, and Rush Limbaugh, found professional and financial success. Can We Talk? is a remarkably fair and balanced look at a profit-driven industry for which critics and supporters have become adversarial in arguing their competing claims, such as advocating free speech and free markets versus upholding social and community values. Anyone interested in talk shows and their impact on society, as well as social scientists, behavior therapists, and psychologists, will benefit from Dr. Scott's incisive comments as a social scientist, host, and panelist.

From Goodreads: "Part of the Great Questions in Politics series, Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America combines polling data with a compelling narrative to debunk commonly-believed myths about American politics--particularly the claim that Americans are deeply divided in their fundamental political views. This second edition of Culture War? features a new chapter that demonstrates how the elections of 2004 reinforce the book's original argument that Americans are no more divided now than they were in the past. In addition, the text has been updated throughout to reflect data from the 2004 elections. Authored by one of the most respected political scientists in America, this brief, trade-like text looks at controversial and hot topic issues (such as homosexuality, abortion, etc.) and argues that most Americans are not polarized in relation to them."

"Civic Engagement in American Democracy opens with an eagle's-eye view of the roots of America's special patterns of civic involvement, examining the way social groups and government and electoral politics have influenced each other over the last 200 years. Other chapters explore community politics, the electoral process, religious institutions, and the advantages and disadvantages of contemporary advocacy politics. The book also probes the influence of long-term social and cultural changes on voluntary associations and civic participation."--BOOK JACKET.

xvii, 239 pages : 23 cm

Drawing on polling results and other data, Fiorina examines the disconnect between an unrepresentative "political class" and the citizenry it purports to represent, showing how politicians have become more polarized while voters remain moderate; how politicians' rhetoric and activities reflect hot-button issues that are not public priorities; and how politicians' dogmatic, divisive, and uncivil style of "debate" contrasts with the more civil discourse of ordinary Americans, who tend to be more polite and open to compromise than their leaders."--[book jacket].