Asserts that successful politicians are those who know how to tap into public needs and give voice to the concerns of the common man. This book also argues that the inherent logic and intellectual respectability of any particular policy are less important than its ability to arouse the emotions and express the deep feelings of a constituency.

He points to Theodore Roosevelt as the prime example in his day of a politician who understood how to rally the public behind a cause. He also comments extensively on socialism, which was a rising political force in the beginning of the 20th century. Though he felt some sympathy with the socialist cause in this early work, he also astutely points out its many weaknesses. Later in his career, Lippmann turned completely away from socialism. A book of both historical interest and of enduring insights into the political process, "A Preface to Politics" will enhance the bookshelves of journalists, political scientists, historians, and all who value good writing.