The two main characters of Joseph Viteritti's The Pragmatist -- Bill de Blasio and New York City itself -- are used to tell the story of the rise, fall and rebirth of progressivism in America's major urban center, and in the process introduce us to the contributions and distractions of every mayor since La Guardia, demonstrating that the road to progress was never a direct journey. Are progressive cities possible? Joseph Viteritti, one of the country's foremost urban scholars, has written a fascinating study of a mayor, a city, and the future of progressive politics in the United States. Full of historical detail, The Pragmatist is the first full-fledged account of Bill de Blasios political career and mayoralty to this point. Deeply informed and elegantly written, The Pragmatist crackles with insights on every page.