Book excerpt: In an era of austerity, population ageing, and global warming, public management has become a subject of even greater importance than hitherto. This book reflects on the nature of the subject, its theories and methods, and the dynamics of the associated academic community. In a lively account, Christopher Pollitt focuses on the tension between being 'scientific', and being useful to the world of practice. He offers an international perspective, acknowledges the emergence of important new players in the field, and provides an unparalleled breadth of coverage in the field of public management and administration.