Synopses & Reviews
How did a scrawny black kidthe son of a barber and a domestic who grew up in Harlem and Trentonbecome the 106th mayor of New York City? Its a remarkable journey. David Norman Dinkins was born in 1927, joined the Marine Corps in the waning days of World War II, went to Howard University on the G.I. Bill, graduated cum laude with a degree in mathematics in 1950, and married Joyce Burrows, whose father, Daniel Burrows, had been a state assemblyman well-versed in the workings of New Yorks political machine. It was his father-in-law who suggested the young mathematician might make an even better politician once he also got his law degree.
The political career of David Dinkins is set against the backdrop of the rising influence of a broader demographic in New York politics, including far greater segments of the citys gorgeous mosaic.” After a brief stint as a New York assemblyman, Dinkins was nominated as a deputy mayor by Abe Beame in 1973, but ultimately declined because he had not filed his income tax returns on time. Down but not out, he pursued his dedication to public service, first by serving as city clerk. In 1986, Dinkins was elected Manhattan borough president, and in 1989, he defeated Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani to become mayor of New York City, the largest American city to elect an African American mayor.
As the newly-elected mayor of a city in which crime had risen precipitously in the years prior to his taking office, Dinkins vowed to attack the problems and not the victims. Despite facing a budget deficit, he hired thousands of police officers, more than any other mayoral administration in the twentieth century, and launched the Safe Streets, Safe City” program, which fundamentally changed how police fought crime. For the first time in decades, crime rates began to falla trend that continues to this day. Among his other major successes, Mayor Dinkins brokered a deal that kept the US Open Tennis Championships in New Yorkbringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the city annuallyand launched the revitalization of Times Square after decades of decay, all the while deflecting criticism and some outright racism with a seemingly unflappable demeanor. Criticized by some for his handling of the Crown Heights riots in 1991, Dinkins describes in these pages a very different version of events.
A Mayors Life is a revealing look at a devoted public servant and a New Yorker in love with his city, who led that city during tumultuous times.
Review
Kirkus Reviews"A former New York City mayor recounts his personal journey from humble roots to running Americas most iconic metropolis
A frank, unique look at the many challenges in New York City politics."
Review
Sam Roberts, New York Times Book ReviewAn inspiring account of New Yorks first black mayor and the hopes he inherited, many of them dashed on the shoals of fiscal reality and a sometimes hapless search for consensus.”
Booklist
Dinkins trumpets his accomplishments as mayor and offers some insights into the boisterous New York political scene, the rise of Harlems political influence, and the evolution of black political leaders during a turbulent period.”
Kirkus Reviews
"A former New York City mayor recounts his personal journey from humble roots to running Americas most iconic metropolis
A frank, unique look at the many challenges in New York City politics."
Synopsis
A charming, self-effacing, and honest memoir by the former Mayor of New York City offers a canny portrait of the education of a politician during an era of political machines, and of a man whose personal values left an indelible mark
Synopsis
A revealing look at a devoted public servant who led New York City during tumultuous times, and whose personal values left an indelible mark on its historyHow did a scrawny black kidthe son of a barber and a domestic who grew up in Harlem and Trentonbecome the one-hundred-sixth mayor of New York City? Its a remarkable journey, told for the first time by David N. Dinkins, the mayor himself. Set against the backdrop of the rise of Harlems influence on city politics, which produced several state and national black leaders and energized the base that ultimately led to the election of Barack Obama, A Mayors Life recounts the career of David Norman Dinkins, who defeated Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani to become the first black mayor of New York.
About the Author
David N. Dinkins is a professor at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and the host of Dialogue with Dinkins” on WLIB radio in New York City.
Peter Knobler has collaborated on several bestsellers, including Sumner Redstones
A Passion to Win and James Carville and Mary Matalins
Alls Fair. The former editor of
Crawdaddy magazine, Knobler has also written for many national publications.