'This humane, accessible and lucid work will enlighten any voter, and remind any would-be – or currently serving – politician of the pitfalls to avoid' - TLSBarely a week goes by without another government U-turn and with the cost of living crisis and rising mortgage rates we really need those in charge to get it right.In this timely book Cambridge Professor Dennis C. Grube explores the pitfalls, failures and successes of those in power around the world. 'A must-read' - Sebastian Payne'Convincing' - David Lammy MPWe live in an era when we really need governments to be effective – the economy, our health and the future of the planet are at stake – but so often they can seem clueless, and their decisions leave us confused.With insight and wit, Grube explains how governments can improve their decision-making and by examining fascinating case studies he highlights the key factors that make for effective government.With the stakes higher than ever before, this original and important book is an essential read for any concerned citizen who wants to understand why governments make the wrong decisions and, crucially, what can be done about it. ‘Highly original and very entertaining' - Gavin Esler'There is a real gap for this book' - Isabel Hardman