A revealing memoir by Boston’s beloved five-term mayor, explaining the power behind Boston’s success and lessons for Washington power brokers

After twenty years of service, Mayor Thomas Menino is stepping down from his office as one of the longest-serving major-city mayors in United States history—and one of the most popular politicians in modern memory. His political career has stretched from the busing crisis of the 1970s to the city’s extraordinary response to the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. 

Menino tells exclusive behind-the-scenes stories of urban politics and provides inspiration for Washington with his proven, people-focused method: “Do the small stuff so you can win the credibility to do the big stuff.” He’s not known as a fancy talker, but he gets things done. Under his wing, the city has enjoyed unprecedented economic growth while fostering a new attitude of acceptance. Menino shows how a very old city shook off its Puritan roots and racial tensions to become a truly twenty-first-century city.