To counter the threat America faces, two political scientists offer "clear constitutional solutions that break sharply with the conventional wisdom" (Steven Levitsky, New York Times–bestselling coauthor of How Democracies Die).Has American democracy's long, ambitious run come to an end? Possibly yes. As William G. Howell and Terry M. Moe argue in this trenchant new analysis of modern politics, the United States faces a historic crisis that threaten...

How institutions shape the American presidencyThis incisive undergraduate textbook emphasizes the institutional sources of presidential power and executive governance, enabling students to think more clearly and systematically about the American presidency at a time when media coverage of the White House is awash in anecdotes and personalities. William Howell offers unparalleled perspective on the world’s most powerful office, from its original design in the Consti...

"It is the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority," wrote Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. The balance of power between Congress and the president has been a powerful thread throughout American political thought since the time of the Founding Fathers. And yet, for all that has been written on the topic, we still lack a solid empirical or theoretical justification for Hamilton's proposition.For the first time, William G. Howel...

Since the early 1960s, scholarly thinking on the power of U.S. presidents has rested on these words: "Presidential power is the power to persuade." Power, in this formulation, is strictly about bargaining and convincing other political actors to do things the president cannot accomplish alone. Power without Persuasion argues otherwise. Focusing on presidents' ability to act unilaterally, William Howell provides the most theoretically substantial and far-reaching reevaluation of pr...

The classic novel about an ordinary man's ascent into wealthy Boston circles, and its effect on him and his family.Thanks to hard work and good fortune, Silas Lapham succeeds financially in the paint business. But money and class are not the same thing, and the Laphams struggle to feel they truly fit in amid New England's social aristocracy.When they move into a luxurious home in the elite Back Bay neighborhood, they soon have a young patrician in their liv...

The following story was the first fruit of my New York life when I began to live it after my quarter of a century in Cambridge and Boston, ending in 1889; and I used my own transition to the commercial metropolis in framing the experience which was wholly that of my supposititious literary adventurer. He was a character whom, with his wife, I have employed in some six or eight other stories, and whom I made as much the hero and heroine of 'Their Wedding Journey' as the slight fable would b...

In "The Quality of Mercy," William Dean Howells masterfully navigates the complexities of human nature and morality through the lens of a compelling narrative infused with social realism typical of 19th-century American literature. Set against the backdrop of an industrializing society, Howells delves into the life of his characters with a keen psychological insight, portraying their struggles with ethical dilemmas and societal expectations. His prose, characterized by clarity and a rich t...

In this book of travels Mr. Howells relates the incidents and impressions of his trip through Spain. In a leisurely, discursive fashion he notes what most appealed to him as he journeyed from San Sebastian through Burgos, Madrid, Toledo, Cordova, Seville to Granada, Ronda, Algecirus, and Tarifa. Like a glorified cinemacolor film, he passes in review Spanish scenery, the architecture of cathedrals and palaces; theatres and hotels; picturesque street-scenes, Moorish remains; the King and Que...

In "Oliver Wendell Holmes," part of his larger work "Literary Friends and Acquaintance," William Dean Howells presents a captivating portrait of the esteemed American author and jurist, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Howells employs an engaging, conversational style, offering readers a window into Holmes's intellect and literary contributions within the context of 19th-century American literature. The work reflects Howells's commitment to realism, enriched by personal anecdotes and philosophica...

Key themes explored in "The Rise of Silas Lapham" include:Wealth and Social Status: The novel delves into the impact of newfound wealth on individuals' aspirations and interactions with established social hierarchies.Business and Ethics: The Lapham family's journey raises questions about the moral implications of business decisions and the pursuit of wealth.Family Dynamics: The relationships within the Lapham family are tested as they navigate societal expectations and personal ambitions.R...

New York City. The dawn of a new century. Two men intent on changing the world with two very different visions.When a self-made millionaire and a new-age social revolutionary come head-to-head, there's no telling who will come out on top. One wants the world. The other wants to give it to those less fortunate. And when a goodwill man steps in to act as mediator, he soon finds himself at a crisis of conscience. How should man choose who wins and loses? What is the best approach for ...

How the search for power defines the American presidential officeAll American presidents, past and present, have cared deeply about power—acquiring, protecting, and expanding it. While individual presidents obviously have other concerns, such as shaping policy or building a legacy, the primacy of power considerations—exacerbated by expectations of the presidency and the inadequacy of explicit powers in the Constitution—sets presidents apart from other political acto...