First published 2011
Deval Patrick opens his memoir in a poor tenement on Chicago's South Side, where his chaotic childhood began. He traces his unlikely path from those humble beginnings to an elite New England boarding school, then to relief work in Africa and Fortune 500 boardrooms, ultimately reaching the Massachusetts State House as the first black governor in the state's history and only the second in American history. Patrick ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Throughout his story, he highlights the family members, friends, and strangers who shaped his character through their words and actions. These relationships taught him lessons about faith, perseverance, and friendship that sustained him through each transition. Patrick argues for the transformative power of community and the necessity of idealism in public life. He provides practical guidance for achieving personal fulfillment and professional success while encouraging readers to invest in others' growth and take greater responsibility for improving the world around them.
Genres: historical, political-science, autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational, overcoming-adversity, rags-to-riches
Setting: Chicago, Massachusetts
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Crown