Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees is geared to providing helpful advice to new political appointees on a variety of topics related to the challenge of managing in government. Chapters include advice of how to work well with career executives, how to work with congress and media, and how to effectively manage their own organization. A major theme throughout the book is that creating productive partnerships with career civil servants is crucial to the achievement of Administration goals and objectives.

Contributions by: Joseph A. Ferrara, Dana Michael Harsell, Judith E. Michaels, Lynn C. Ross, John H. Trattner, Chris Wye