A concise, accessible introduction to the public policy process that can be read on may levels. The author's direct writing style and extensive use of examples will appeal to students as well as practitioners.
The book offers an extensive overview of the best current thinking on the policy process, with an emphasis on accessibility and synthesis rather than novelty or abstraction. An extensive glossary of terms, keyed to the chapters in which each term is most thoroughly discussed; an annotated bibliography; and an introduction to web-based research, with a guide to the most important and reliable public policy research sites, are among the book's many useful features. 

Key Themes and Additions in the 5th Edition
Major Political Shifts: Analyzes modern developments like the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the Brexit referendum, showing how major political shocks force lawmakers and voters to rethink established assumptions.
Media Evolution: Covers the changing media landscape, including the decline of traditional print and TV news alongside the rise of social media and "fake news".
Policy Theories: Explores foundational and emerging frameworks, such as the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), Advocacy Coalitions, Multiple Streams, Punctuated Equilibrium, and Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD).
Pedagogical Features: Includes chapter outlines, key term definitions, review questions, case studies, and visual aids tailored for undergraduate and graduate political science or public administration courses.