100,000 First Bosses: My Unlikely Path as a 22-Year-Old Lawmaker

In this spirited debut memoir, Connecticut state senator Haskell recounts his 2018 upset victory over a Republican incumbent who had been in office for more than 20 years. Raised by his divorced parents in Westport and Bridgeport, Conn., Haskell recounts being taken by his father to hear Barack Obama speak during the 2008 New Hampshire primary, and how the election of Donald Trump "transformed our generation from kids into adults." While still a senior at Georgetown University, he decided to run against his hometown senator, whose opposition to paid family medical leave and criminal justice reform "felt like a mismatch for the moment." Haskell shares amusing anecdotes about filming his first campaign ads and organizing a dorm-room fundraiser, and details the legislative challenges he's faced since taking office. He also argues persuasively that "millennials and Gen Z are systematically underrepresented" in government and that, until more of them get a seat at the table, issues such as gun control and climate change will not be adequately addressed. His passion is infectious, and he provides plenty of instructive insider details. This earnest and enthusiastic account is a welcome introduction to politics for young people interested in making their voices heard. (Jan.)