"George Edwards has written a cogently argued, data-driven analysis of the Obama administration's failure to appreciate the opportunities and limitations of exercising power in the American political system. In the process, Edwards shows the relevancy of his and other scholarship for presidents, their advisers, and serious students of the American presidency."--Stephen J. Wayne, Georgetown University
"George Edwards is our leading analyst of the probabilities of presidential power. He shows that presidents are most effective at the margins, when they exploit existing opportunities rather than when they try to build new coalitions. And when they succeed (as with Obamacare) they might well be careful what they wish for. This book is a superb analysis of Obama's leadership style, and is essential reading for White House counselors."--Richard Pious, Barnard College
"In this provocative, accessible, and timely volume, George Edwards presents a sobering analysis not just of the Obama presidency, but of the very possibility of transformative political change. Overreach constitutes a valuable reminder that what the public expects of presidents, and what presidents expect of themselves, often amounts to a gross exaggeration of what is genuinely possible. Moreover, this book argues, presidents who proceed undaunted risk paying a significant political cost."--William G. Howell, University of Chicago
"Presidents facing criticism or difficulties--which is to say, all of them--normally blame their problems on a failure to communicate rather than their own policy choices. With a special focus on Barack Obama, though, Overreach shows us that presidential choices are the key, since attempts to use communication skills to change hearts and minds are largely doomed to failure. Fluently written, this book provides both a good read and important claims to consider."--Andrew Rudalevige, Dickinson College