
Shortest Way Home
One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future
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Narrated by:
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Pete Buttigieg
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By:
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Pete Buttigieg
About this listen
A mayor's inspirational story of a Midwest city that has become nothing less than a blueprint for the future of American renewal.
Once described by The Washington Post as "the most interesting mayor you've never heard of", Pete Buttigieg, the 36-year-old Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has improbably emerged as one of the nation's most visionary politicians. First elected in 2011, Buttigieg left a successful business career to move back to his hometown, previously tagged by Newsweek as a "dying city", because the industrial Midwest beckoned as a challenge to the McKinsey-trained Harvard graduate. Whether meeting with city residents on middle-school basketball courts, reclaiming abandoned houses, confronting gun violence, or attracting high-tech industry, Buttigieg has transformed South Bend into a shining model of urban reinvention.
While Washington reels with scandal, Shortest Way Home interweaves two once unthinkable success stories: that of an Afghanistan veteran who came out and found love and acceptance, all while in office, and that of a Rust Belt city so thoroughly transformed that it shatters the way we view America's so-called flyover country.
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We all have bad days and dry spells. We all experience moments of disappointment, sadness, and self-doubt. And occasionally, we all need an encouraging word—or several—to lift our spirits, boost our confidence, and fill us with hope. Straight from the works of best-selling and widely admired authors, here's a collection of positive and reassuring words you can turn to anytime you're in need of support.
What listeners say about Shortest Way Home
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Overall
- dbbks3
- 03-17-19
Reveals a Person Wise & Experienced & Literate
I have been reading books and papers written by current candidates running for President. I am a lifelong Democrat be side I care deeply about the U.S. Constitution and the diversity that is America. I had candidates that interested me before seeing how many candidates there are runnjng. I like Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Julian Castro.
I knew nothing about Pete Buttigieg except that he was Mayor of South Bend. When you say Indiana to me, I think of Pence and Notre Dame, neither being favorites of mine. I saw Buttigieg interviewed on CNN and other TV appearances such as Late Night with Steven Colbert. I was impressed. I wanted to know more about him. I saw he had authored a book about his life. It was on Audible and he was the narrator of his own story.
Pete Buttigieg is experienced beyond his actual years. He speaks Arabic and other languages. He is veteran being serviced in the Middle East. He is a Rhodes Scholar. He has worked analyzing data for the private sector traveling all over the world. He is Mayor of a complicated city in midwest. He is a person who truly knows words and understands their weight.
I am intrigued by Pete Buttigieg. I want everyone to read/listen to his book. Know about him before you decide. I know the majority of candidates will be on the sidelines within the year. I hope Pete Buttigieg is still a viable candidate as I feel he has an important voice in this election.
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83 people found this helpful
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- Sonsart2
- 03-10-19
AWESOME! 5 Star book!!!
This book was way out of my usual reading zone, so I was skeptical when I got the sample. But after hearing the sample on Audible, I quickly bought it. Truthfully, it is a great book! Pete reminds me of a young JFK. I don't say that lightly. The easy way he has of communication in difficult situations and remarkable intelligence for someone so young is stunning! I mean his name, Pete Buttigieg, is one you are going to hear for many years to come in American stage of politics! I encourage you to sample this book and I am sure you will be intrigued to listen some more. It is easy to really delve into his world, and get to know this up and coming politician. 5 Star Book!
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77 people found this helpful
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- MPet
- 04-30-19
Smart & utterly sincere
This book is so simple yet rich, honest yet dazzling, tender yet grand. I don't know how he manages all these dichotomies, but for some reason I'm listening to the audio book for a third time LOL! I just find him so reassuring, something so uplifting about his values, his intelligence, his will to make the country — and each of our lives — better.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Robert Grocock
- 05-21-19
America's Brilliant, Gay Mayor
Loved this book. He is one of the many brilliant and sane alternatives to President Trump who are running for the Democratic nomination. This book does not address his current campaign, but it does discuss his (technically national vs. local Indiana or local South Bend) campaign for DNC Chair (about which I didn't know) but which provides some foreshadowing for his run at the Democratic nomination.
As a gay man who came out late in life as well, I was laughing (and crying) at his story of coming out to his parents (my mom reacted very similarly...) and was cheering (and crying a bit here, too) as he told the story of meeting the man who is now his husband. I could picture them at O'Hare.
His narration is perfect and heartfelt.
Am new to audio books and to political ones. This one is right at the top.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Josh
- 07-16-19
I’ve got a good feeling about Mayor Pete
The first time I heard Mayor Pete speak I knew there was something different about him. I had to listen to this book, and it really put his political philosophy into perspective. There are some areas I wish he’d go a bit further left, but I trust his intuition. I’ll definitely be giving him my vote in the NH primary.
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2 people found this helpful
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- NancyB
- 08-10-19
Need some hope?? Read this!!
What a wonderfully uplifting book, especially to listen to with Mayor Pete narrating. Just listening to his voice and delivery is so calming and reassuring. Extremely well written, it gives insight to so many aspects of Mayor Pete's life, both public and private. i would never have thought a mid-sized city's politics would have anything of interest for me. I was wrong, at least with the way Pete tells the stories. To get an in-depth look at what has made this man who he is, read--or listen--to this book. To feel better about where we are now, read/listen to this book. To find hope in a seemingly hopeless world, read/listen to this book. You'll be so glad you did.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Chasity
- 02-11-20
If you want to learn..
I purchased this book on a recommendation from a former classmate. I was already a member of #TeamPete before but now I feel like I understand him so much better as a person and candidate.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Alex Harman
- 10-30-19
Exceptional story and perfect narration
I loved the fact that Pete narrated this himself, you really are listening to his life story in his own words and voice.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Christopher
- 05-11-19
Hope for the future!
Mayor Pete gives us all hope that the Democratic Party can increase its membership and gain back the Senate and the White House. This next generation of leaders will do great things!
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- Kim Norton
- 04-10-19
Important Read
A good story - and essential if you want to understand a strong candidate! You have my support, President Pete.
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