William Epstein, DSW, MSW, is Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Social Work. Dr. Epstein has authored nine books and scores of articles, reviews, and research monographs. He has over 30 years of university teaching and 15 years of experience in community organization and development, public administration, and policy research.

• Acknowledgements Preface Section I: Explaining Social Policy Making Introduction: The Ruling Masses Chapter 1: Precursors to Policy Romanticism Chapter 2: Policy Romanticism Chapter 3: -- An American Archetype: The Quest for the Authentic Self -- Psychology, Pop Psychology and Self-Help Chapter 4: Spiritualism, Religion and Other Romantic Quests for the Authentic Self Section II: Policy Romanticism and American Social Welfare Chapter 5: Year Up Chapter6: Communities in Schools Chapter7: Generations of Hope Communities Chapter 8: The Food Stamp Program Chapter 9 - Food Stamps and Public Welfare Conclusion Social Adolescence

In Epstein's hands, populism refers more to pervasive cultural sensibilities, shared by the mass of the American public, than to the personalities, policies or political strategies of individual political figures. And his contention is that politicians must adhere to these populist cultural sensibilities if they are to succeed electorally.