‘Arguably no more important question, in the global era, faces students of public policy than to understand the processes and approach for developing, and implementing, policy design. Understanding the conditions through which policy design emerges, shapes policy tools’ considerations and, ultimately – as Peters and Fontaine’s impressive collection of essays make clear – is not just about achieving goal attainment but also about understanding how competing and complementary approaches for doing so end up influencing how we view problems and consideration of their solutions. It is for these reasons that it is hard to overstate the importance of this book for students and practitioners of public policy. Not only does this book make contributions to those seeking to explain, and prescribe, public policy, but it also makes it clear that the turn toward “decision science” and universalist answers, and its corresponding reliance on “big data” and sophisticated algorithms, as illustrated in the Heikkilä, Wellstead and Wood chapter, provides an incomplete knowledge base required for a comprehensive interrogation of policy design. For these reasons the book’s embracing of the contribution of different knowledge communities is not only refreshing, it is required for those who seek to advance societal deliberations over what it means to engage in “good policy”, rather than advancing approaches that narrow these conversations. Required reading for students of public policy and practitioners who seek to improve an understanding of, and ameliorate, the myriad of vexing policy challenges facing governments, and civil society.’