Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future

I read this on the heels of reading Chasten Buttigieg’s 2020 memoir, “I have something to tell you.” As I expected, these are two very different, but also very complementary, books. What most people who read “Mayor Pete’s” book from 2019 don’t understand is that, combined with his husband’s memoir, the two books are nothing less than an epic gay romance. Two very different young men, both from the Midwest, each of them troubled by something deeply personal but entirely different from the way it troubles the other. Both men are virtual tropes of a whole genre of popular fiction.Pete Buttigieg, who could easily be my son, is a very good writer. The book is full of richly-textured content and yet not burdensomely long. It is remarkably well crafted, and by that I mean structured so as to deliver the maximum effect in exactly the way the author wishes. Even the boring parts—like “how to manage a mid-sized Indiana city”—are actually engaging; and there is tremendous pleasure in reading the words of a man who is literate and thoughtful and, at times, poetic.This is, however, and totally opposite to his husband’s more recent memoir, a very calculated, political book. This is not a criticism, but simply an observation. It is really well done, and I spent any number of moments staring off into space trying to imagine the editorial machinations that tweaked and polished and nudged every single chapter and subsection into exactly the right place for the right time.“The Shortest Way Home,” I suspect, effectively describes and truly resembles the life it portrays. Pete Buttigieg is so much smarter in the largest sense of the word than I could ever be. His interests in civics and politics, even as a boy, took him far outside any set of interests I ever had. His scholarly abilities, his passion for knowledge (even esoteric and difficult knowledge—the description of his Oxford years nearly made me faint from my own sense of inadequacy) truly mark him as an exceptional person. There is no bragging, but also no false modesty.Buttigieg’s astonishing feat of internal logic that turned him toward a completely voluntary side-career in the military (while, mind you, he was also the mayor of a city and still in his twenties), was so alien to me I had to stop and think through his reasoning. I ultimately disagree with his reasoning, but I understand it, and was rather moved by the moral purity of it. He is far braver than I ever have been, and I suspect that his military impulse was part of a larger internal self-preparation for the public arena (even if it was subconscious).Other than two random uses of his name, Chasten Glezman and his role in Buttigieg’s life has no place in this book until it is three-quarters done. The idea of a famously gay man waiting until this late in a memoir to actually deal with the topic of his sexuality bespeaks a political savvy that is both impressive and a little chilling. Pete got a great deal of his name recognition for being the gay mayor of a midwestern city; but he knows (as I do) that the wave of his popularity rode on the embrace of lots and lots of straight readers. I get it; but I am like Chasten, and was out by the age of twenty, and met my husband as an undergraduate at Yale forty-five years ago. I know I’m not like Pete, but can’t help worrying that he’s one of those gay men who insists that being gay is “only one small part of who I am.” Could be. I could be wrong.Regardless, I admire Pete Buttigieg and his book immensely. I was honestly in tears at the end, as he speaks of his love for South Bend Indiana and the life he has built there. He had not yet completed his unsuccessful run to be president when this book was published; but he knew it was a longshot anyway. This book is just as interesting and relevant now as it was then. This is a man who has a long view. He also has a great heart and a soul as honest and true as any politician I’ve ever heard of, including the famous ancestor after whom I’m named.I hope Pete and Chasten make it to the White House someday. I really think they could change the world and make our country better. They surely couldn’t do worse.

Like many, I was initially drawn to Mayor Pete's personal story and political acumen after watching him deftly handle questions on the CNN town hall. I wasn't sure what to expect of his book, since reading about the mayoral duties of mid-sized city isn't typically how I spend my free time. I initially began reading the hardcover edition, but then switched to the audio book so I could listen to it during my commute. Living in a city about the same size as South Bend with an industrial heritage, diverse population, and active political scene, I can relate quite a bit to the challenges he faces as mayor; I'm on my city's planning commission and have many friends that are involved in city government. I particularly enjoyed Mayor Pete's descriptions of the political powerbrokers of South Bend, as they reminded me a lot of some of the past and present characters we have here in Renton, WA. Renton faces most of the same issues that Mayor Pete has tackled during his time in office: downtown revitalization, infrastructure repair, spikes in violent crime, and the transition to a tech and service-based economy. Just as in South Bend, we are in the midst of converting one way streets in our downtown back into slower-paced two way streets to improve the pedestrian experience and encourage the addition of shopping and dining venues. Some of the other projects that Pete has led, such as the very intriguing river lights project, has already given me some ideas for my city.One of the other major reasons I wanted to read Pete’s book was because he’s a married gay man like me. He’s 10 years younger and his experience in the gay world has been far different than my own, so I was intrigued to read his story. I’ll admit, as someone who came out at age 14 (after realizing I was gay at around 11), my entire teenage and adult life experience has been defined by my identity as a gay man, politically, sexually, and otherwise, so it’s challenging for me to understand how someone could be closeted well into adulthood, when he didn’t face any of the typical societal or religious pressures that often lead to coming out late in life. In middle school, I was already looking for gay-themed books at the public library, and in college, I was the leader of the queer men’s group on campus. Pete didn’t even start dating until his mid-30s. Suffice to say, Pete and I are very different people in that regard, and I suspect he’s less sexually motivated than your typical male, gay or straight, but I certainly don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of… especially for someone seeking elected office. He immersed himself in his studies, his career, and his military service before he was ready to live as an out and proud gay man, and in the end, it all seems have to worked out for him. Different strokes for different folks!I’m now a full-fledged Pete evangelist, and it seems everyone I introduce to his candidacy—from my 82 year-old mother to my evangelical Christian boss—falls in love with him. Those of you who wish to learn more about Pete should definitely read his book. Considering it’s on backorder, though, you might want to consider the Kindle or audio version. :-)

I spent a long time over this. I started at the beginning, then dipped into different chapters out of order, then went back and read some chapters I’d read before. Then I started from the beginning again, and read all the way through. I also listened to Pete narrating his own story with the Audible version. I’m full of admiration for the things Pete’s achieved in his relatively short life time, and admit to having a huge (political) crush on him. I can see him going all the way to the top. I only wish we had someone of such high calibre here in the Australian political scene

民主党の大統領選に彗星のようにあらわれた若い候補。オバマ元大統領の夢を再びと手に取りました。オバマ大統領の自伝ほど感情に訴えるものではありませんが、Ｍａｙｏｒ　Ｐｅｔｅさんは、非常にクリアーマインドな人だとわかりました。大統領選の行方、彼の将来が楽しみです。

Pete is an extraordinary human being. I hope he becomes the next US president!

Like most people, I assume, I came to this book after 'Mayor Pete' declared his intention to run for President in a heavily contested Democratic field with some big name candidates. My idle curiosity soon turned to an admiration for his debating ability at Town Hall events and the obvious sincerity with which he held his views. On every level he is the antithesis of Trump and Trumpism, without being labelled as another Millenial radical of the Democratic left.His back story is now well known. Born in South Bend Indiana, a Harvard and Rhodes Scholar, McKinsey alumni, a speaker and reader of a number of languages, a talented musician, Navy veteran of the war in Afghanistan and the then youngest mayor of South Bend Indiana where he is in his second term. He is also proudly gay and married having 'come out' in his early 30s. That's a lot of life to pack into his 37 years. In a nutshell that is what is covered in the book. A precursor to his run for president.Buttigieg has a matter of fact modesty about the way he documents the progress of his life, where the most of his readers would be satisfied if they had managed just one of his achievements. Buttigieg is by any measure a man driven by the courage of his convictions rather than the lure of power (and wealth). His convictions lie in public service and he is very good at providing the backstory as to why he has thus far taken the life shaping decisions that he has.This book is his life story before running for Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2020. In many ways the spotlight of the campaign provides some perspective on the events in the book. He recounts how he tackled poor housing with his challenge of 1000 homes in 1000 days. It was met and surpassed. What Buttigieg does not do is to provide perspective with some counter narrative of his success - the accusation of the 'gentrification' of neighbourhoods where people of mainly minority background lived. He has also come in for much criticism of his handling of the sacking of a coloured police chief. While his reasons are set out clearly in the book, the impact of his decisions with black voters is lightly passed over. However the controversy has followed him unto the presidential trail where he is already having difficulty raising his profile with black and minority ethnic voters.If this book was written as an autobiography of a packed early life and nothing more it would be a fairly interesting read. Where Buttigieg fails is in the promise of the second half of his title 'a model for America's future'. America's future is more than the sum of economic Mid-Western revival and Buttigieg fails to scale up his learning as mayor to a vision of national benefit.There is nothing in the book to suggest how the values he espouses will help America work with its allies, develop trade and deal with the many trouble spots and regimes across the world where the USA operates as a bulwark for democracy (good or bad).The book is an interesting read if not a page turner and by the time I had finished I had had enough of South Bend. I was left disappointed that Buttigieg has not used his much touted Mayoral experience, where he clearly has succeeded, to translate it into the broader vision for America he promised, in areas such as health care, education, foreign policy economic revival for states in decline; how his data driven approach would be used to target investment and so on.I've given the book 4 stars. Would I have bought it but for the 'Buttigieg Bump' in his popularity of a national stage in the USA. Almost certainly not. He must demonstrate beyond doubt that the experiences of Mayor Pete, set out in the book, translate to a much greater deeper agenda and a much wider audience, lest he be regarded as a highly talented fresh political operative of promise, but who remains a 'one trick pony'.

Rarely have i read a non-fiction book at one go and though I have sometimes lost a whole night's sleep over a book, it was always to a thriller/crime/detective novel - i am surprised at myself to get so engrossed in a political autobiography of someone who isn't yet famous in his own country, let alone mine.I got directed to this book through one of Mayor Pete's appearances in an American talk show where the host displayed the book. The mayor seemed to talk sense and though from a different country, with very different issues than mine, he seemed to be able to generate appreciation in me for things he said (and the way he said it) and somehow strike a chord in someone so far removed from issues he talked about (or maybe we are not really that removed, given the globalisation of thought processes and politics that transcends boundaries and finds commonality in many national discourses today).After seeing some of his TV appearances, streamed online, i decided to give the book a chance. And despite difficulty of finding it here for almost a month (the first Amazon seller, after two weeks of booking, cancelled the order as there was no book in his stock) it finally landed in my home and reading through it i felt it was a wise decision to persist in trying to buy a copy.The autobiography revolves around the author's role as Mayor of his hometown: it's history and characteristics, the challenges he faces as a mayor and how he, and his city administration, are responding to such challenges in innovative ways. This book is the story of an incredible young man who has achieved a lot, yet has remained humble while telling his story. The story's central tenet is about the love of a man for his roots and how he went out to gather knowledge first and then returned to serve his hometown, community and country. It also contains the simple and romantic story of Mayor Pete and his husband Chasten.And all of it is beautifully written.If you are someone who likes reading books, and gets inspiration from the written word, this particular book is a must read, even if you are not that interested in American (or any) politics.So do get hold of a copy of this book. Apart from reading a good story told well, you will also get to know the next US President (if not, the next US something - what I don't know but it is for sure he is destined to greatness, or rather Mayor Pete is great already and we will get to see him shaping something important in US or international politics).