"Brian Balogh's stimulating collection of essays on the development of the modern American state . . . make[s] a significant contribution to a growing literature that seeks to understand the substantial and complex power of the modern American state rather than to deny it." (American Historical Review) "A compelling and novel portrait of American political development. Balogh contends that a different and powerful reading of American political history can be developed by focusing on the organization of relationships between the state and society." (Elizabeth Clemens, author of The People's Lobby: Organizational Innovation and the Rise of Interest Group Politics in the United States) "A distinctive analysis of the growth of American government in the twentieth century, building its many insights on a commanding synthesis of American political development and the new political history." (James Sparrow, author of Warfare State: World War II Americans and the Age of Big Government)