'œTeacher Politics: The Influence of Unions posits that 'teacher unions have become the most powerful political constituency in education.' That may not seem like a startling position, but as the author documents, the rise of teacher politics has indeed been, in the words of the journal, Phi Delta Kappan, 'the most astonishing story of our time.' In a climate of shifting alliances between parents, students, legislatures, and the federal government, teacher unions have become the chief representatives of education in American education. The author describes in economical, almost journalistic prose, the rise of teacher politics and the agendas of the NEA and AFT, which as he points out, have almost reversed themselves politically over the years. Be warned that the book is no unqualified paean to teacher unions, either: the author squarely confronts two problems; first, that the unions have been reactive to school reform (witness how the reforms of the 80s seem to catch organizations napping, and their responses were characteristically dilatory); second, the very fact that there are two major unions competing for members and influence has done education not much more good than the proliferation of Popes during the Great Schism. What the author sensibly suggests is that the two merge. As an overview of where we've been and where we should consider going Teacher Politics is an engaging summary of shop-talk issues for teachers.'' CURRICULUM REVIEW.