A call to tone down our political rhetoric and embrace a common-sense approach to change.Many experts believe that we are at a fulcrum moment in history, a time that demands radical shifts in thinking and policymaking. Calls for bold change are everywhere these days, particularly on social media, but is this actually the best way to make the world a better place?In Gradual, Greg Berman and Aubrey
Fox argue that, contrary to the aspirations of activists on both the right and the left, incremental reform is the best path forward. They begin by emphasizing that the very structure of American government explicitly and
implicitly favors incrementalism. Particularly in a time of intense polarization, any effort to advance radical change will inevitably engender significant backlash. As Berman and Fox make clear, polling shows little public support for bold change. The public is, however, willing to endorse a broad range of incremental reforms that, if implemented, would reduce suffering and improve fairness. To illustrate how incremental changes can add up to significant change over time, Berman and Fox
provide portraits of "heroic incrementalists" who have produced meaningful reforms in a variety of areas, from the expansion of Social Security to more recent efforts to reduce crime and
incarceration.Gradual is a bracing call for a "radical realism" that prioritizes honesty, humility, nuance, and respect in an effort to transcend political polarization and reduce the conflict produced by social media.
Industry Reviews
"'Gradual' makes a passionate and convincing argument for incrementalism." -- The Economist
"Practical and satisfying." -- Tyler Cowen, Times Literary Supplement
"A welcome and necessary corrective to what ails much of our current thinking about transformative social change. Berman and Fox offer an illuminating roadmap for action that finds persuasive precedent in the cumulative capacity of modest steps to address profound challenges." -- Daniel F. Wilhelm, President, The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
"Berman and Fox have written a deeply wise and richly insightful book about the possibilities for social policy change. Illustrated by a wealth of examples from different policy areasDLincluding their own experiences as criminal justice reformersDLthey argue that incremental reforms sustained over a long period have the capacity to make bigger, more impactful, and lasting change than can usually be attained from any single sweeping reform. This engaging book is
both highly accessible to general readers and grounded in the scholarly literature. It will be a terrific addition to courses on public policymaking." -- Frances Lee, Professor of Politics and Public
Affairs, Princeton University
"Radical incrementalismDLthe pursuit of revolutionary change over the geological time scaleDLis the world's most underrated force for social improvement. In this innovative, enjoyable, and sometimes inspiring book, Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox show how stepwise reform brought Social Security to America and safe streets to New York, and why incrementalism, not 'bold action,' is the solution to our most intractable problems. So here's what to do: read
Gradual, identify a problem, then find three constructive steps you can take. As a veteran of the fight for same-sex marriage, I can say that the results will surprise you." -- Jonathan Rauch, Senior Fellow,
Brookings Institution
"In this simply written and powerfully argued book, Berman and Fox make the telling point that incremental measures often produce major changes. Their insightful analysis moves beyond the inflated contemporary rhetoric and helps us understand what drives policy and how we might do better." -- Edward D. Berkowitz, Professor Emeritus of History and Public Policy, George Washington University
"A major contribution to the study of incrementalism. Berman and Fox make a compelling case for the superiority of incrementalism as a way to make policies. While incrementalism can be a purposeful strategy, it may also result from many independent and uncoordinated changes (a phenomenon they call 'accidental incrementalism') or from what they call 'practitioner vetoes' in the implementation process." -- Michael Hayes, Professor Emeritus, Colgate University
"Excellent for collections on public policy, social change, and American politics." -- Choice
"Gradual ' makes a passionate and convincing argument for incrementalism." -- The Economist
"'Gradual' makes a passionate and convincing argument for incrementalism." -- The Economist
"Practical and satisfying." -- Tyler Cowen, Times Literary Supplement
"A welcome and necessary corrective to what ails much of our current thinking about transformative social change. Berman and Fox offer an illuminating roadmap for action that finds persuasive precedent in the cumulative capacity of modest steps to address profound challenges." -- Daniel F. Wilhelm, President, The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
"Berman and Fox have written a deeply wise and richly insightful book about the possibilities for social policy change. Illustrated by a wealth of examples from different policy areasDLincluding their own experiences as criminal justice reformersDLthey argue that incremental reforms sustained over a long period have the capacity to make bigger, more impactful, and lasting change than can usually be attained from any single sweeping reform. This engaging book is
both highly accessible to general readers and grounded in the scholarly literature. It will be a terrific addition to courses on public policymaking." -- Frances Lee, Professor of Politics and Public
Affairs, Princeton University
"Radical incrementalismDLthe pursuit of revolutionary change over the geological time scaleDLis the world's most underrated force for social improvement. In this innovative, enjoyable, and sometimes inspiring book, Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox show how stepwise reform brought Social Security to America and safe streets to New York, and why incrementalism, not 'bold action,' is the solution to our most intractable problems. So here's what to do: read
Gradual, identify a problem, then find three constructive steps you can take. As a veteran of the fight for same-sex marriage, I can say that the results will surprise you." -- Jonathan Rauch, Senior Fellow,
Brookings Institution
"In this simply written and powerfully argued book, Berman and Fox make the telling point that incremental measures often produce major changes. Their insightful analysis moves beyond the inflated contemporary rhetoric and helps us understand what drives policy and how we might do better." -- Edward D. Berkowitz, Professor Emeritus of History and Public Policy, George Washington University
"A major contribution to the study of incrementalism. Berman and Fox make a compelling case for the superiority of incrementalism as a way to make policies. While incrementalism can be a purposeful strategy, it may also result from many independent and uncoordinated changes (a phenomenon they call 'accidental incrementalism') or from what they call 'practitioner vetoes' in the implementation process." -- Michael Hayes, Professor Emeritus, Colgate University
"Excellent for collections on public policy, social change, and American politics." -- Choice
"Gradual ' makes a passionate and convincing argument for incrementalism." -- The Economist
