Governing by numbers is an interesting and significant examination of policy-making and law-making at the operating level. well-executed study at the conclusion of the book, the reader feels that he has a firm grasp of what was heretofore an unknown and obscure arena of policy-making. The quality of the writing is also very good. The book is well organized and integrated. Overall, this book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of an important venue of policy-making. The field can benefit from systematic work like this, focused on the adoption of regulations that constitute the bulk of law that really impacts most people. Charles Wise, Indiana University Governance March 2001