Liberal Arts In Print – September 2026
The following are publications recently published in the College of Liberal Arts.
A History of the Modern American Presidency
Authored by Kathryn Cramer Brownell, a professor of history (Routledge)
September 2026
This book guides students on a journey to explore and analyze the role and development of the American presidency. Rather than focusing on biographies of individuals, it looks at presidential periods through a lens of economic trends, technological changes and the intersection between grassroots politics and national institutions. Demonstrating a nuanced history and debate over the place of the president in American political life, the book reflects how political historians have explored a more expansive sense of the spheres in which politics happen, translating recent academic scholarship for an undergraduate audience.
Enjoyment Is Breaking News: How We Became Less Informed and More Divided (and How to Fix It)
Authored by Jennifer Hoewe, an associate professor of communication and courtesy professor of political science (The MIT Press)
September 2026
This book dives into the dramatic changes in the ways news is delivered and consumed. While news consumers used to look to the news just to learn and become informed, we now expect enjoyment as well. Hoewe explains how and why this shift toward news enjoyment occurred, why we don’t always select the best sources of news, how we respond to the news sources we do select and how that information impacts our political knowledge and decisions. The book offers solutions for how to improve news creation and news use moving forward, including how news consumers can escape their enjoyment-fueled consumption cycles and how news and social media companies can play a role in curbing the automatic amplification of enjoyable news. The book explains how we can all do better when it comes to the information we seek and share.
Introduction to Structural Equation Models
Authored by Shawn Bauldry, interim head of sociology (SAGE Publications)
June 2026
Written for graduate students and researchers, this accessible guide introduces structural equation modeling (SEM) to help social and behavioral scientists analyze complex, abstract concepts. The book walks readers through the full SEM workflow, from model specification and identification to estimation and evaluation, with each chapter building systematically on the last. Readers benefit from a balanced approach: advanced mathematical concepts are paired with concrete, worked examples, and each chapter concludes with suggestions for further reading.
Public Opinion: Democratic Ideals, Democratic Practice
Co-authored by Rosalee Clawson, a professor of political science (CQ Press)
September 2026
In the fifth edition of Public Opinion, Clawson and her co-authors offer students an accessible and engaging introduction to the study of public opinion. The text explores the tension between ideals and their practice, asking questions about the relationship between citizens and their government and the nature of citizens’ opinions in a democratic society. Each chapter focuses on exemplary studies, explaining not only the conclusion of the research but also how it was conducted, helping students gain a richer understanding of the research process.