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California Governor Gavin Newsom's forthcoming memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," offers readers an intimate look at his personal struggles and political journey, including some eyebrow-raising encounters with prominent figures.
The memoir, scheduled for release on February 24, delves into Newsom's childhood challenges with dyslexia and his unconventional path to political prominence. According to a recent New Yorker profile, Newsom describes his reading process, which involves underlining text, copying it to lined paper, and then transferring key points to index cards – a method he's used to overcome his learning disability.
"A lot of people look at me in the stark white shirt and blue suit and, yeah, the gelled hair and think 'I know this guy,'" Newsom said in a video promoting the book. "This is a truly vulnerable book."
The memoir recounts Newsom's childhood following his parents' divorce when he was three years old. Though his father was a prominent attorney with connections to the wealthy Getty family, Newsom and his sister Hilary were primarily raised by their mother in what he describes as modest circumstances.
"We raised ourselves on giant bowls of mac and cheese and thought nothing of it," Newsom writes, though some former associates have questioned this characterization of his upbringing.
The book also includes candid revelations about Newsom's political encounters. During his time as San Francisco mayor, Newsom faced personal scandals, including his admission in 2007 that he had slept with his campaign manager's wife, Ruby Rippey Tourk, after which he sought treatment for alcohol abuse.
Political observers note the timing of the memoir's release. "It's all part of the 'exploring the presidency' formula: book tour, couple sexy anecdotes that get picked up in major news outlets... you get everybody talking about you," said Christina Bellantoni, a USC professor of journalism, according to the New York Post.
The book was originally scheduled for release in May but was delayed as Newsom dealt with criticism over the January wildfires that affected parts of Los Angeles.
As governor, Newsom has positioned California as "America, but only more so," highlighting the state's economic power and diversity. "We dominate in every critical industry," he told former President Bill Clinton during a Climate Week event. "Yes, we're the fourth-largest economy in the world, $4.1 trillion a year, but we dominate with more engineers, more scientists, more Nobel laureates, more venture capital, the finest system of public higher education in the world."
The memoir's release comes as Newsom's national profile has grown significantly. A weighted average of polls asking about Democratic presidential possibilities shows Newsom neck and neck with former Vice President Kamala Harris, reflecting his increased visibility on the national stage.