An inspiring read that shows just how much America has to gain by welcoming immigrants and investing in all people equally. As a memoir, this book is very approachable. Only a small bit of policy is mentioned towards the end, when Castro discusses his political offices.
Julián Castro describes the American dream not as a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay in which each generation passes along what they have achieved in the hopes that the next generation might have even better and more accessible opportunities for success. He tells his own family history, an example of this relay for the American dream.
Castro is a Mexican-American who grew up in an underprivileged part of San Antonio, TX in a single-parent, multi-generational household. He and his identical twin brother Joaquin shared a special bond, and together they were raised by a passionately politically active mother who taught them how to help improve their community by taking action. There's always some debate about nature versus nurture, but it's fascinating that Julián went on to become a San Antonio city councilman, then mayor, then President Obama's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, while Joaquin became a state representative in Texas, and then a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Through his life story, it's clear how Castro developed his sense of service and giving back. He believes that all people have ability and ambition, and it is mostly a lack of opportunity that holds back those of modest means. As someone who received critical mentoring along the way, he believes in both acknowledging the efforts of those who paved the path before him, and also reaching back and helping those who will follow behind him. His dedication to his hometown of San Antonio is admirable.
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