Hi all:

A few weeks ago I solicited responses for a list of what would be the top ten public policy books. Thanks to all of you for responding.

In my non-scientific poll, Kingdon and Stone were cited by nearly everyone as being on their list of top ten books. After that, Lipsky and Weimer and Vining received several votes, as did Bardach and Allison. After that, responses were more mixed but patterns did emerge.

Given the responses, here is the list of top ten policy books.

Allison, Graham, The Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis

Bardach, Eugene, A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving

Birkland, Thomas A., An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, And Models of Public Policy Making.

Braybrooke, David and Charles Lindblom, A Strategy of Decision: Policy Evaluation as a Social Process

Kingdon, John, Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policy
Stone, Deborah, Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making

Lipsky, Michael, Street Level Bureaucracy

Rohr, John, Public Service, Ethics, and Constitutional Practice

Simon, Herbert A., Administrative Behavior

Weimer, David and Aidan Vining, Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice