Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery
Feb 2026 · Sold by Penguin
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About this ebook
The #1 USA Today Bestseller and Instant New York Times Bestseller
From California Governor Gavin Newsom comes an intimate and poignant account of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics
“Go slow,” his political elders advised him, but Gavin Newsom has never known such a speed. For Newsom, the California Dream is what lured his father’s family from County Cork, Ireland, six generations ago. His great-great-grandfather, a cop, walked a beat in San Francisco, where almost 150 years later, Newsom would be elected as mayor, running on the values instilled in him by his family history: that California’s open arms must continue to extend to each new generation.
Newsom has never lived anywhere but California. Born in San Francisco, his parents divorced at a young age, and his childhood was spent being tugged between two worlds: his mother worked three jobs in order to care for her children while his father, a close friend of the Getty family, brought Newsom into San Francisco society, a world of wealth and connections. The dissonance was frustrating, and made all the more difficult because of undiagnosed dyslexia, but the vantage point was valuable: he inherited his mother’s perseverance and his father’s reverence of California, not only its wildness, but its opportunity.
In Young Man in a Hurry, Newsom traces the forces that have defined his ambitions as a politician and have pushed him to outpace the nation on myriad cutting-edge social issues that have since entered the mainstream. As mayor of San Francisco, he made waves when he violated state law in order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, more than ten years before the Supreme Court made such unions legal. He launched bold efforts to counter climate change, improve mental health care, and enhance gun safety, and worked to preserve the California Dream for his constituents. Elected as governor on the eve of unprecedented wildfires and entering office into immediate hyper-partisan headwinds from Washington, DC, Newsom has constantly and consistently stuck his neck out. Here for the first time, he reflects on the long personal journey that ultimately shaped him into one of the most recognizable and accomplished elected officials in America. Filled with intimate family history and written with candor and remarkable personal insight, here is a deeply resilient California story of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics.
From California Governor Gavin Newsom comes an intimate and poignant account of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics
“Go slow,” his political elders advised him, but Gavin Newsom has never known such a speed. For Newsom, the California Dream is what lured his father’s family from County Cork, Ireland, six generations ago. His great-great-grandfather, a cop, walked a beat in San Francisco, where almost 150 years later, Newsom would be elected as mayor, running on the values instilled in him by his family history: that California’s open arms must continue to extend to each new generation.
Newsom has never lived anywhere but California. Born in San Francisco, his parents divorced at a young age, and his childhood was spent being tugged between two worlds: his mother worked three jobs in order to care for her children while his father, a close friend of the Getty family, brought Newsom into San Francisco society, a world of wealth and connections. The dissonance was frustrating, and made all the more difficult because of undiagnosed dyslexia, but the vantage point was valuable: he inherited his mother’s perseverance and his father’s reverence of California, not only its wildness, but its opportunity.
In Young Man in a Hurry, Newsom traces the forces that have defined his ambitions as a politician and have pushed him to outpace the nation on myriad cutting-edge social issues that have since entered the mainstream. As mayor of San Francisco, he made waves when he violated state law in order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, more than ten years before the Supreme Court made such unions legal. He launched bold efforts to counter climate change, improve mental health care, and enhance gun safety, and worked to preserve the California Dream for his constituents. Elected as governor on the eve of unprecedented wildfires and entering office into immediate hyper-partisan headwinds from Washington, DC, Newsom has constantly and consistently stuck his neck out. Here for the first time, he reflects on the long personal journey that ultimately shaped him into one of the most recognizable and accomplished elected officials in America. Filled with intimate family history and written with candor and remarkable personal insight, here is a deeply resilient California story of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics.
The #1 USA Today Bestseller and Instant New York Times Bestseller
From California Governor Gavin Newsom comes an intimate and poignant account of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics
“Go slow,” his political elders advised him, but Gavin Newsom has neve...
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Ratings and reviews
7 reviews
Keeks
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March 27, 2026
We all truly love Gavin, as our Governor out here in California. He governs over the only State of our Union, that makes by far, the Largest GDP in the United States, by far!! No, way more than New York & Texas even - yes by far Texans!!!! The sheer amount of different types of newer corporate tech companies, and the biggest creative arts area - that is Hollywood. Too many newer type corporations, making huge profits because Cali is always the place for Progressive Drive & Ambition. The State were it keeps moving to the beat of our Future, Always. California makes the 8th Highest GDP of the entire world! We, as the Richest United State, we help out constantly, in helping many Red States pay their bills. If Red States really wanted us out, boy if we were not helping the poorest Red States, they would not make it. They would literally, be "in the red." (Gavin's Thought's & Ideas)🌞🧑💻☘️🌴😎💋🏄 🦸🌡️🔥🌊🌌🍕🫕🍦🍭🥂🍾🍷🎡⛱️🌃🌉🎆🪩📸🎭🎤💄💍🎬🎭📽️🎸🎹📱🛍️💳📚🇺🇸 🌟🎉🫶🙏🙏
Juan Robles
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February 24, 2026
very good book.
About the author
Gavin Newsom is the governor of California. He previously served as lieutenant governor of California and mayor of San Francisco. Before elected office, he was a small business entrepreneur. He founded the PlumpJack Group, which now consists of twelve retail stores, wineries, hotels, and restaurants. He is the husband of Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the father of four children.
Gavin Newsom is the governor of California. He previously served as lieutenant governor of California and mayor of San Francisco. Before elected office, he was a small business entrepreneur. He founded the PlumpJack Group, which now consists of twelve retail stores, wineries, hotels, and restaura...
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