George C. Edwards III is University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University. His many books include The Strategic President. He is the editor of Presidential Studies Quarterly.
This book can stand on its own as a worthy case study of what to do and to avoid as America's most well-known and influential policy maker. I recommend this book for those who want to understand the contemporary Presidency and its relationship with Congress as it really is. --Gino J. Tozzi, Jr., Political Studies Review For more than two decades George C. Edwards has been carefully laying out a clear and consistently articulated argument about the nature of American politics. . . . Edwards's body of work is interesting in that each book builds upon the others. His newest book, Overreach: Leadership in the Obama Presidency, links his prior insights together and extends them into an analysis and critique of one incumbent president, Barack Obama. --Richard W. Waterman, American Review of Politics Overreach is a clear and instructive essay, which, with an impressive amount of data (polls, television audience statistics, Congressional voting, and so on), confirms the arguments Edwards has been making since 2003. --Aurelie Godet, Books and Ideas.net In Overreach, Edwards applies 'lessons learned' from his previous work on presidential leadership to the Obama presidency. Edwards argues that presidents do not create political opportunities, but must identify political openings and capitalize on existing political opportunities. . . . A readable book that will find a home in undergraduate courses on the U.S. presidency. --Choice A valuable addition to the understanding of US polity. --R. Balashankar, Organiser [A] clear, well-documented study of the limits on presidential power and influence. --Publishers Weekly