"If you would like students to understand hard political concepts, this work makes it accessible for them. By using pop culture, we can open ideological ideas and students are not bound by their own preconceived ideas."
"I wish all Political Science texts were written by Van Belle!"
"An engaging way to teach Introduction to Political Science with unique use of pop culture examples."
An interesting interpretation of the basics, ordered in a unique way.”
An engaging way to teach Introduction to Political Science with unique use of pop culture examples.”
Van Belle offers us an introduction to the study of politics using popular culture and humor. While this approach is already enshrined in the numerous articles and teaching conferences in our discipline, it has yet to be reflected in any meaningful way in a textbook— with Van Belle’s text as the exception, of course!”
The slightly irreverent, humorous approach of the authors went over well with my students; I appreciated the sophisticated yet accessible treatment of the philosophical roots and theoretic structure of the study of politics. It worked very well with my approach to introducing political science; using the book with films and current events facilitated dynamic and far-ranging discussion
As an instructor who struggles to animate students about the importance politics in their daily lives, this text accomplishes the almost impossible—it makes students smile and even laugh about politics. The framing of political theory in such a way that challenges students to think and to internalize ideas is a major accomplishment. As a supplementary reader it enriches and brings ideas to life while providing much needed substance to class discussions
A Novel Approach to Politics is a must-use textbook for any instructor who wishes to gain and maintain student interest in political science. Van Belle and Mash make politics come alive with their use of fictional stories and historical examples to illustrate political concepts. Students constantly comment that they find the A Novel Approach to Politics to be both engaging and enjoyable to read. Often getting students to read a textbook is like pulling teeth, with A Novel Approach to Politics, this is one dentist visit that students actually enjoy
In all of my class lectures, I frequently mention films, books, and TV shows that illustrate a point of political interest. When Van Belle and Mash first released their delightful text, I found a book to use whose ‘kindred spirit’ matched my approach. It is fun, funny, informative, and most importantly, it serves up politics to a generation of students who have been socialized by the entertainment media
Who says political science has to be dull and lifeless? Van Belle’s textbook is completely distinctive from the other currently available political science textbooks— you will come for the popular culture references and stay for the humor, which both work as engaging ways to keep students’ attention. My students invariably love this book. A Novel Approach to Politics is political science as you always hoped it would be.”
Douglas Van Bell’s A Novel Approach to Politics is a “useful and handy textbook for…beginners” with “good examples” and “simple definitions.”
A Novel Approach to Politics is an easy-to-read, entertaining, basic introduction to political science that covers the key concepts, theories, and thinkers of the discipline with relatable examples and illustrations from fiction and pop culture. Van Belle’s humor sets his text apart, making learning about political science ’cool‘ and ’entertaining‘ for the nerdy and non-nerdy alike.”
A Novel Approach to Politics is an entertaining textbook that combines solid scholarship with references to cultural media that students will enjoy and teachers will find refreshing. Van Belle’s text is very different from traditional textbooks— it is like The Daily Show compared to CNN News. Its sarcasm and humor are unique and make students more likely to read it than traditional texts.”
“A Novel Approach to Politics is an easy-to-read, entertaining, basic introduction to political science that covers the key concepts, theories, and thinkers of the discipline with relatable examples and illustrations from fiction and pop culture. Van Belle’s humor sets his text apart, making learning about political science ’cool‘ and ’entertaining‘ for the nerdy and non-nerdy alike.”
The slightly irreverent, humorous approach of the authors went over well with my students; I appreciated the sophisticated yet accessible treatment of the philosophical roots and theoretic structure of the study of politics. It worked very well with my approach to introducing political science; using the book with films and current events facilitated dynamic and far-ranging discussion
