Review: Shortest Way Home by Pete Buttigieg

If you have an interest in local politics, national politics, public service, American current affairs, or just really really well-written memoir than you need to read Shortest Way Home. It is fantastic.

Pete Buttigieg's memoir follows his life growing up in South Bend, Indiana, being educated at Harvard and Oxford, working for The Firm, running for a local office and losing, running for Mayor of South Bend and winning, turning a “dying city” into a thriving one, being deployed as a member of the Navy reserves, coming out as gay right before his reelection, falling in love as a gay 30 ish year old Mayor, and how community organizing and politics have impacted Buttigieg and been impacted by him.

The most welcome surprise in this book is just how well written it is. Memoirs are sometimes a bit clunky in a way that is forgiven because the subject is far more interesting than their prose is odd. But Buttigieg, a literature and history graduate of Harvard, writes beautifully. His style is pretty informal, it is very conversational, but reminded me most of my favorite professors lecturing styles. I learned a lot, laughed out loud, and cried at least four times.

The thing about this book that works the best, and the backbone of the story, is the deep and clear love Pete Buttigieg has for South Bend. I am a massive sucker for a civic love story, and this is a beautifully crafted one. From the history of the city, told throughout the book in chunks that in no way overwhelm, to the profound and interesting musings on why parts of the midwest cling to the idea of becoming “great again”, Buttigieg tells the reader why “fly-over country” is just as rich and nuanced a place as the rest of the country. A small aside, but I typically find the analysis on the behavior of a place so much more insightful when told by an actual resident. It is one of the reasons I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and my favorite part of Naturally Tan by Tan France.

I am definitely guilty of the political science student sin of knowing how important local government is, but really being more deeply seduced by learning about national and global politics. Reading books like this remind me how important local politics are especially during politically fraught times. It is a massive inspiration to get involved and lets you know for sure that things like direct action and political change are enacted by small groups of people organizing with whatever resources are provided to them.

I also am indebted to this book because it made me decide that I should go to grad school and study human rights, something about reading about someone else’s decisions made me more capable of decisively making my own. Thanks Pete.

I also liked the level of personal this book digs into. It does not get too feelings-y, Buttigieg is a pretty analytical person it seems, but you get the sense of knowing him much better. This is mostly shown when he describes his relationships with his family, his community, and Chasten (who it is now my greatest dream writes a political partner memoir after being the First Gentleman [I am still undecided if I am rooting for him to be the first First Gentleman or the second First Gentleman] so I can read his fascinating story told by him).

I also loved the references in this book. I am pretty sure chapter 7 ended with a The West Wing reference, there were shoutouts to The Office and Parks and Recreation, to great works of literature, excellent music, and Dave Matthews Band. You get to know Pete through the things he loves, and I found it massively entertaining. In addition to loving all the wonky political nerd stuff.

Basically, I loved this book; it has probably kicked off my reading of political memoirs (Senator Harris and President Obama’s are on my list right now). It has also started my eager waiting for more books by Pete Buttigieg in the future.

I gave this book five stars on Goodreads, and recommend it to everyone.