Many politicians’ memoirs are wonky and inaccessible, but listening to Tubbs talk about everything from systemic racism to education reform feels like catching up with an old friend. It’s this quality of Tubbs’, his complete lack of pretension, that makes his story one that readers can find themselves in. While the prose is plain, it’s not a disadvantage; Tubbs has no need to gussy up what is a deeply inspiring story ... Tubbs’ memoir serves not only as testimony about the effects of poverty, racism and the price of incarceration, but also as a blueprint for how to turn rage into action, and a powerful reminder that changing the world often begins at home.

... detailed and compelling ... Tubbs shares deeply personal reflections while also chronicling on-the-ground positive effects of government intervention in poverty, violence, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Tubbs defines the challenges that Black communities face nationwide and declares the potential for remarkable change.

[Tubbs] experiences with local politics and community organizing are instructive and revealing, and his gratitude for the women who raised him is evident throughout ... Part coming-of-age story and part political autobiography, Tubbs’s book is an accessible and compelling account of his life.

... the author movingly chronicles his life story, offering insightful considerations of, above all, the crucial role played by the three women who guided his upbringing, the challenges he faced in claiming an elite education (Stanford) and establishing a career in politics, and the representative lessons to be learned from his experiences about the nation’s abiding racial barriers ... The author’s voice is both accessible and authoritative, and it establishes a trust that undergirds his commentaries on topics ranging from systemic racism to educational reform to the intricacies of campaign finance. Tubbs also skillfully renders the history and evolving fortunes of Stockton, and the city’s entrenched pathologies—as well as the tenacious efforts of many of its citizens to secure a more peaceful and equitable future—form a vivid backdrop to the author’s personal story. Particularly compelling are the later chapters, which describe Tubbs’ victorious mayoral campaign in 2016 and the ideals that propelled it, along with the abuse he endured from often unscrupulous political adversaries. The scandal surrounding the author’s’ DUI conviction, which nearly ended his budding career, is treated with rare candor and self-awareness and ought to serve as a model for other memoirists. His reflections on the dynamics of disinformation campaigns and their relevance to contemporary politics could not be more timely ... An emerging political leader’s resonant and inspiring account of his life and vision for social transformation.

... clear-eyed ... Throughout, Tubbs’s outsize natural charisma, generosity, and academic prowess mark each story ... Beyond being overwhelmingly inspiring, Tubbs’s story is written with a deep sincerity, especially when recalling more painful moments ... This is an inspiring look at what it means to serve a community from a young political mind on the rise.