Caught Between the Dog and the Fireplug, or How to Survive Public Service
![]() 224 pp., 6 x 9 Paperback ISBN: 9780878408474 (0878408479) eBook ISBN: 9781589012936 E-Inspection Request E-Inspection March 2001 LC: 00-047678 Texts and Teaching, Politics, Policy, Administration series EXPLORE THIS TITLE DescriptionTable of Contents Reviews |
Caught Between the Dog and the Fireplug, or How to Survive Public Service
Kenneth Ashworth
Replete with practical advice for anyone considering a career in federal, state, or local government, Caught between the Dog and the Fireplug, or How to Survive Public Service conveys what life is really like in a public service job. The book is written as a series of lively, entertaining letters of advice from a sympathetic uncle to a niece or nephew embarking on a government career. Kenneth Ashworth is adjunct professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin and visiting scholar at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. Among his many positions in public service, he served as Texas Commissioner of Higher Education.
Reviews
"A 'must' for anyone aspiring to a career in public service at any level, Caught Between the Dog And The Fireplug is highly readable yet filled with sensible observations and recommendations."—Wisconsin Bookwatch "Quite often an academic assumes that a book of anecdotes provides 'war stories' but little insight. This book, however, richly combines real experience with solid advice that would benefit even the most experienced public administrator. Ashworth's book performs the rare feat of providing an amusing look at public service while maintaining the importance of service to the commonweal."—Public Administration Review "Kenneth Ashworth's letters...are a wonderful, witty, and literate distillation of a distinguished career in public service."—Bill Hobby, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas and former Chancellor of the University of Houston System "I would recommend this book to any student of public service. Kenneth Ashworth tells it like it is, using a rich collection of experience, anecdotes, and lessons in the real-life workings of our government."—Charles B. Reed, Chancellor, California State University Table of Contents Foreword Preface October: Working with politicians November: Working with the press December: Learning from your boss January: Dealing with unpleasant and difficult people February: More on unpleasant people March: Subordinate leadership, getting help from above April: Taking the initiative, or risk taking inside government May: The kinds of pressures and influence used on you September: Relations with a governing board October: More on governing boards November: Bona fide bureaucratic behavior December: "Walking with kings" January: Delegating, or working for your subordinates February: Ethics and morality in public service March: A few thoughts on leadership April: A summing up |