Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues

by Stanley Feingold, Stanley Feingold

This debate-style reader is designed to introduce students to controversies in politics. The reading, which represent the arguments of leading political scientists, lawmakers, and political commentators, reflect a variety of viewpoints, and have been selected for their liveliness and substance, and because of their value in a debate framework. The ultimate purpose of this volume is to develop critical thinking skills by requiring students to analyze opposing viewpoints and reach considered judgement.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Textbooks, Read For School

369 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Megan]

A good sentiment behind this book, and the summaries/collection of works are excellent, but it's incredibly difficult to find the authors of passages you are interested in reading from the Index or Table of Contents. He cites everything by his summaries, meaning he uses his name instead of the author's when signifying passages. Incredibly annoying.

[Ashley]

If you want to know both arguments for a political issue...this is the book. I really enjoyed it because it posed a question or topic then you can read the opinion of the side for and the side that's against. I found it really informative, and it actually helped me get an opinion on several issues because I was better informed based what I read.

Another nice thing about this book it that it doesn't read like a text book...it's more like hearing both sides of a political debate.

I would recommend this book to anyone who votes...will vote... or just wants to have an opinion.

[Simon]

This is a book I had as a supplement and never read it and so I thought I would go ahead and read it. It is basically has a bunch of point counter point on policy issues.

[laurenpie]

One of my favorite textbooks from college... eye-opening to me back in the day.