Power Book

This is one of the clearest, most eloquently written theoretical pieces on power I have read. Most books on power provide an exhausting amount of detail, most of which is background and critique. I understand why they do it, but it is not at all practical to read and apply such books in research like mine, which involves looking at over a dozen dimensions of institutionalised environments. This book contains some critique and background, but it really hones in on the important details and clearly outlines a "radical" theory of power. The view of power is not really that radical...perhaps it was more radical when this book was first published in 1974; in which case it is a testament to the theory that it seems completely reasonable to me today. Even though this book is short, it manages to address several pragmatic empirical issues that will arise in applying the author's favoured, 3-dimensional view of power in research. He doesn't solve them entirely, but his effort provides a useful foundation and illustrates the feasibility of the theory.

The book also doesn't rely on Foucault or Marx, which is an impressive and endearing attribute in the sea of literature that relies on one or both. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a primer and eloquent conceptual model of power, particularly if you find your eyes glaze over when you read the more lengthy tomes on the topic.