These are more than interesting times-they are entertaining ones. And the risk of that is a trivialization of politics, a loss of seriousness, and a spread of ignorance. But does that mean we should simply deride popular culture and the media, or rather that we must address them all the more urgently? Jeff Jones has the answers to these questions, and he acts as a perfect guide along a path to our enlightenment.

Toby Miller, New York University

This is a fresh and stimulating contribution to the study of media and politics. Jeffrey Jones underscores in a compelling way the complexity behind such traditional polarities as 'information' and 'entertainment,' and sheds new light on key concepts such as 'engagement.' Looking at contemporary humorous political talk shows on television, Jones highlights with insight and clarity the inexorable links between politics and popular culture. His book marks a major step forward in our understanding of civic culture and its relationship to the ubiquitous media milieu. Demonstrating analytic depth and yet written in an accessible manner, this book will become an important bridge between political communication and cultural studies.

Peter Dahlgren, Lund University

Media practitioners and critics, along with a small but growing number of scholars, have increasingly noted the role of entertainment programming in public discourse about politics. Most observers lament this apparent trend, doing so with little attempt to place it in the context of democratic theory or practice. Entertaining Politics helps fill this void and in the process provides a nuanced, provocative-and at times optimistic-view of the changing face of television and politics.

Michael X. Delli Carpini, University of Pennsylvania