Political Works Usage by Michael Johnson - Books

Political Works Usage

By Michael Johnson Political Science 24/02/2025

Political Works Usage examines how political books influence public opinion, policy preferences, and electoral outcomes beyond mere sales figures. It investigates the role of political literature in shaping discourse, the motivations behind readership, and the tangible effects on voting behavior, providing a data-driven analysis of the impact of political books on civic engagement.

The book uniquely combines quantitative data, such as Nielsen BookScan data and LexisNexis searches, with qualitative insights derived from social media analysis using natural language processing. One intriguing finding explores how book sales fluctuate around significant political events, indicating a direct engagement with political ideas during key moments. Another insight delves into how media coverage and social media trends amplify or diminish the impact of these books.

The book progresses by first introducing theoretical frameworks like agenda-setting and framing theory to understand the role of political literature. It then presents case studies of influential political books, analyzing sales data, media mentions, and public opinion shifts. Finally, it explores practical implications for political actors and publishers.

By focusing on fact-based, non-fiction works, the book offers a rigorous analysis valuable for political scientists, communication scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of public opinion and political engagement in current events.