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569 reviews for:
Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future
Pete Buttigieg
4.14 AVERAGE
569 reviews for:
Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future
Pete Buttigieg
4.14 AVERAGE
Pete's story was surprisingly poetic for a political propaganda book! My biggest critiques: his numerous mentions of "THE Firm" and the fact his inexperience shows—lots of the political tales are filler because tbh he hasn't done much yet. My favorite parts: his self-effacing anecdotes of how useless mayors can be and the story of him and Chasten meeting on Hinge.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Revealing insight into Pete Buttigieg. I thought the lessons and themes were well put, but also the prose overall had some very technical and dry parts. I also thought it was a little confusing that it wasn’t completely in chronological order. Overall I liked it! The job of mayor definitely seems like a tough, all-encompassing one! Audio.
Overall good book, insightful, and I feel like I got to know him. My only complaint would be that there seemed to be a minor lack of focus at times where I'd get lost with what was happening and when the events were taking place.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Essentially a 200+ page cover letter from Pete about running for more than mayor. Because Pete is brilliant and has a degree in literature from Harvard, this book is tight and well written. Just the right mix of aww shucks Midwestern sensibilities combined with practical know how. It reads like a Disney story except without that awkward downward swing right before the end. It’s a memoir of success building upon success.
He quotes Joyce, JOYCE!!!, my beating heart bounds with exulting motion. Multiple times I had to pause and do a sort of a combined blink/head shake, as the level of communication and reading Pete has done is far ranging and impressive. Not what I expected at all. He references a handful of political theorists that I also look forward to reading in the future.
Pete's ride from Harvard to McKinsey to Mayor is the type of career pinball that every upper middle class mother dreams about for their child. But then you mix in military service and coming out in Mike Pence's Indiana, it’s almost like I can hear the Chariots of Fire playing in the background.
I can’t quite tell if his run for President was a successful attempt to raise his national profile, or an earnest failed attempt to run for President. This memoir positions itself as the latter, but I think Pete’s too crafty to just blindly run for President, but it is possible after waltzing his way through local politics, he thought that might mean he has a chance. Like a kid who's the best on his sandlot trying out for the local travel team. Either way, after this failed bid for president I’m sure he’ll run, and probably win, a Senate seat or something in the next few years, then he’s definitely off and running for President again. As Ariel says about Pete’s ambition in The Little Mermaid
“Look at this stuff, Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has everything?
Look at this trove Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Lookin' around here you'd think
'Sure, she's got everything'
I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
'You want thingamabobs? I got twenty'
But who cares? No big deal
I want more”
And it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Pete has secretly been practicing his falsetto to nail this song on that Mask show my roommate won’t stop watching.
I also think there's a huge difference from Petes trademark “Awwww Shucks #DataDriven” mayoring to running the country. But as he isn't going to be running for president again for at least another decade, that’s just opinion and neither here nor there for this highly polished memoir.
He quotes Joyce, JOYCE!!!, my beating heart bounds with exulting motion. Multiple times I had to pause and do a sort of a combined blink/head shake, as the level of communication and reading Pete has done is far ranging and impressive. Not what I expected at all. He references a handful of political theorists that I also look forward to reading in the future.
Pete's ride from Harvard to McKinsey to Mayor is the type of career pinball that every upper middle class mother dreams about for their child. But then you mix in military service and coming out in Mike Pence's Indiana, it’s almost like I can hear the Chariots of Fire playing in the background.
I can’t quite tell if his run for President was a successful attempt to raise his national profile, or an earnest failed attempt to run for President. This memoir positions itself as the latter, but I think Pete’s too crafty to just blindly run for President, but it is possible after waltzing his way through local politics, he thought that might mean he has a chance. Like a kid who's the best on his sandlot trying out for the local travel team. Either way, after this failed bid for president I’m sure he’ll run, and probably win, a Senate seat or something in the next few years, then he’s definitely off and running for President again. As Ariel says about Pete’s ambition in The Little Mermaid
“Look at this stuff, Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has everything?
Look at this trove Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Lookin' around here you'd think
'Sure, she's got everything'
I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
'You want thingamabobs? I got twenty'
But who cares? No big deal
I want more”
And it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Pete has secretly been practicing his falsetto to nail this song on that Mask show my roommate won’t stop watching.
I also think there's a huge difference from Petes trademark “Awwww Shucks #DataDriven” mayoring to running the country. But as he isn't going to be running for president again for at least another decade, that’s just opinion and neither here nor there for this highly polished memoir.
The presidential candidate's back story. He comes across as likeable, bright, but very much the intellectual policy wonk. Still not sure that he has the background/experience to go after the top job. I appreciate his evolving perspective on Mike Pence from partnering on things for the state/city to Pence's homophobic policies.
Now I see why he was a viable candidate
The data-driven Millennial mayor of South Bend wrote a memoir I hadn’t heard of until he was proposed as Secretary of Transportation. It’s very readable and well written. I found out all kinds of things I hadn’t known about him before, such as his Navy Reserve service that coincided with his time as mayor.
He’s clearly fond of his home city South Bend, a hard sell for me. I have been in South Bend two or three times, always in midwinter and mostly in the convention center for fencing tournaments, and not being a football fan I was less than impressed by the nearness of Notre Dame.
The book makes me understand his love; as a resident of another city that is often denigrated, I know all too well that vacant houses and empty lots don’t mean a place isn’t wonderful.
It’s an enjoyable read, but despite the warmth of anecdote it’s the richness of his discussions of government, politics, and service that make the book worthwhile. I still wouldn’t have chosen him as president in the 2020 race unless, like Biden, he was the last Democrat standing, but now I get why his supporters were so sure of him despite his age.
The data-driven Millennial mayor of South Bend wrote a memoir I hadn’t heard of until he was proposed as Secretary of Transportation. It’s very readable and well written. I found out all kinds of things I hadn’t known about him before, such as his Navy Reserve service that coincided with his time as mayor.
He’s clearly fond of his home city South Bend, a hard sell for me. I have been in South Bend two or three times, always in midwinter and mostly in the convention center for fencing tournaments, and not being a football fan I was less than impressed by the nearness of Notre Dame.
The book makes me understand his love; as a resident of another city that is often denigrated, I know all too well that vacant houses and empty lots don’t mean a place isn’t wonderful.
It’s an enjoyable read, but despite the warmth of anecdote it’s the richness of his discussions of government, politics, and service that make the book worthwhile. I still wouldn’t have chosen him as president in the 2020 race unless, like Biden, he was the last Democrat standing, but now I get why his supporters were so sure of him despite his age.
I gave this book three stars because it was included in (nerd alert!) a book club series on infrastructure I took part in this summer, and there was not nearly as much about infrastructure in there as I would have liked for discussion. As political autobiographies go, it is pretty good. At first I thought, "This guy is early in his career. What does he have to say that hasn't been said." But after reading it I appreciated the perspective. Usually political autobiographies are written after people have been in Washington a while, and they tend to stress the same old things with slightly different perspectives - how Congress works, things they can do for constituencies, inside workings of the White House, gossip about other insiders. We tend not to learn about, say, the experience of running a small city, so this was much more interesting to me than the usual Washington insider memoir.
There were three things Buttigieg talked about that resonated with me. The first was the importance of making appearances at all the public events. I am fairly involved in my community, and I feel so tired for our state legislator, mayor and member of Congress when I see them at multiple events a day, basically smiling, shaking hands, and sometimes saying a few words. I often think they could get so much done if they didn't have to do this. And they have to go to so many events because if they skip one over another on the same day, it will be seen as ignoring/snubbing one group. It often seemed like a waste of time to me. Mayor Pete originally felt this way too, but once he got into office, his mind changed. In a chapter titled, "The Celebrant and the Mourner," he says, "Growing into the job of mayor entailed grasping that the symbolic role given to me was no less substantive than the power of policy - if deployed wisely." Often, just like in our personal lives, the people politicians serve don't necessarily want policy discussions - they want to be listened to in good times and bad. Government works better when constituents believe there is a real, caring person behind it. I still know I couldn't do that job, but I understand it a lot better now.
The second thing is something I am very guilty of myself. Buttigieg relied a lot on collecting data and analysis to run the city at the beginning of his administration. He employed all sorts of tech tools to figure out like where potholes were springing up, where gun violence was happening, and where sewer leaks were problematic. This gave him lots of info to use to address problems. But he was accused of relying too much on the technology and big picture, while ignoring local experts, people in the neighborhoods and people's emotions. His assistants and advisors told him that to be ultimately successful, he needed to bring in more of his constituents' feelings and emotions. The resulting solutions might be less comprehensive or efficient, but would be more likely to stick. People wouldn't see government as just a soulless technocrat.
The third is that although there may have been some preferable things about mid-20th century US, especially in places like South Bend - a thriving downtown that supports pedestrians, employment at good paying jobs with just a high school education, we need to recognize that we are moving forward, and most things are better today, such as cleaner water and cleaner air; a greater variety opportunities for women, gay people and racial minorities - both in work, academics, social life; wider availability of all kinds of food; better and faster communication with people around the country and globe; even the sewer sensor system Buttigieg instituted to better regulate sewerage.
Finally, he talks a bit about the food he ate while on various campaign trails. I have to share his very partial list of the food he encountered at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival in Evansville, Indiana. (p. 95) It is such a Midwestern festival thing: Caramel Puffs, Catfish Filet Sandwich, Catfish Nuggets, Chai Tea, Cheese Balls, Cheese Soup, Cheese Sticks, Cheese Quesadillas, Cheeseburgers, Cheesecake, Cheesecake on a Stick, Cheesey Fries."
There were three things Buttigieg talked about that resonated with me. The first was the importance of making appearances at all the public events. I am fairly involved in my community, and I feel so tired for our state legislator, mayor and member of Congress when I see them at multiple events a day, basically smiling, shaking hands, and sometimes saying a few words. I often think they could get so much done if they didn't have to do this. And they have to go to so many events because if they skip one over another on the same day, it will be seen as ignoring/snubbing one group. It often seemed like a waste of time to me. Mayor Pete originally felt this way too, but once he got into office, his mind changed. In a chapter titled, "The Celebrant and the Mourner," he says, "Growing into the job of mayor entailed grasping that the symbolic role given to me was no less substantive than the power of policy - if deployed wisely." Often, just like in our personal lives, the people politicians serve don't necessarily want policy discussions - they want to be listened to in good times and bad. Government works better when constituents believe there is a real, caring person behind it. I still know I couldn't do that job, but I understand it a lot better now.
The second thing is something I am very guilty of myself. Buttigieg relied a lot on collecting data and analysis to run the city at the beginning of his administration. He employed all sorts of tech tools to figure out like where potholes were springing up, where gun violence was happening, and where sewer leaks were problematic. This gave him lots of info to use to address problems. But he was accused of relying too much on the technology and big picture, while ignoring local experts, people in the neighborhoods and people's emotions. His assistants and advisors told him that to be ultimately successful, he needed to bring in more of his constituents' feelings and emotions. The resulting solutions might be less comprehensive or efficient, but would be more likely to stick. People wouldn't see government as just a soulless technocrat.
The third is that although there may have been some preferable things about mid-20th century US, especially in places like South Bend - a thriving downtown that supports pedestrians, employment at good paying jobs with just a high school education, we need to recognize that we are moving forward, and most things are better today, such as cleaner water and cleaner air; a greater variety opportunities for women, gay people and racial minorities - both in work, academics, social life; wider availability of all kinds of food; better and faster communication with people around the country and globe; even the sewer sensor system Buttigieg instituted to better regulate sewerage.
Finally, he talks a bit about the food he ate while on various campaign trails. I have to share his very partial list of the food he encountered at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival in Evansville, Indiana. (p. 95) It is such a Midwestern festival thing: Caramel Puffs, Catfish Filet Sandwich, Catfish Nuggets, Chai Tea, Cheese Balls, Cheese Soup, Cheese Sticks, Cheese Quesadillas, Cheeseburgers, Cheesecake, Cheesecake on a Stick, Cheesey Fries."
7/10. I love Pete Buttigieg! This book was well-written and very intriguing--the voice of Pete was very clear and it was so interesting to learn not just about his life but also the way that he thinks about issues. The story was not told chronologically, but rather by themes, which I found refreshing. Pete Buttigieg somehow remains humble throughout the book despite the fact that he graduated from Harvard and Oxford with top marks, is a rhode scholar, a veteran, regularly runs seven miles, can speak seven languages, saved South Bend from economic collapse (with help of course), and can play both the piano and the guitar. He is so well spoken in his speeches and his writing. Not to mention, this book was written even before he began his 2020 presidential bid. I can't wait for his next book!