In this frankly normative discussion of the relationship between public administration and society, Box (public administration, U. of Nebraska at Omaha) assesses the ability of those people involved in public administration to push the surrounding society in progressive directions. He first describes contrasting pairs of regressive and progressive values as connected to commercial militarism, social inequality, and environmental destruction. He then addresses the possibilities of progressive social change from the perspectives of the public service practitioner and the academician. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)