With a deft combination of data and telling anecdotes, Richard L. Zweigenhaft and G. William Domhoff show that women and minorities have made inroads into the power elite, although the overwhelming majority at the top continues to be white, wealthy, Christian, and male. The authors find -- and explain the reasons for -- striking differences in the representation of various minorities in the power elite. They also examine how the presence of women and minorities affects the elite group itself. They report that the newcomers tend to be similar in social class and educational backgrounds to the traditional members and that there are few liberals and even fewer crusaders among them. Thus diversification has in fact solidified and strengthened the power elite, for its members continue to share the same perspectives on business and government, and the presence of women and minorities has made this select group more legitimate to many critics.

"This elegantly written book gives unique insights into the ways in which American elites are changing and the ways in which they in turn are changing the gate crashers from underrepresented groups". -- Richard Alba, State University of New York at Albany