Title: Excellent Theoretical and Empirical Work, Narrow Academic Focus
Product review: This is a must read book for anyone interested in American political development, as long as you don't mind the academic language and narrow focus. As a study on statebuilding it is too narrow, but as a study of the development of bureaucratic autonomy it is a major achievement. In my opinion, Carpenter also shortchanges the antebellum era. It is an excellent compliment to Skowronek's book "Building a New American State." For a different perspective on the 19th centutry American state, see Jensen's book "Patriots, Settlers, and the Origins of American Social Policy" and "Shaped by War and Trade" edited by Katznelson and Shefter.
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