“We need government to be more innovative and inventive, and in We the Possibility, Mitchell Weiss shows that achieving it isn’t a pipe dream. It’s within our reach.”

—MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, 108th Mayor of New York City; founder, Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies

“As an optimist and businessperson who started several companies before I served in government, I felt that We the Possibility struck a chord with me. At the Department of Commerce we hung a sign in our office that read, “Trust your crazy ideas.” That sign continually encouraged us to unleash innovative thinking, experimentation, and an entrepreneurial spirit for the benefit of America’s businesses and workers. Mitchell Weiss captures this mantra well by offering a myriad of examples that show how to make our government operate better at a time when we most need it to solve tectonically significant challenges and create more-inclusive opportunity for all Americans. This compelling book is well worth a read.”

—PENNY PRITZKER, entrepreneur; former US Secretary of Commerce

“In a sector crying out for innovation but where politics punishes failure, Mitch Weiss shows us how and why thoughtful risk-taking in public policy and government is the path to a hopeful future.”

—DEVAL PATRICK, former Governor of Massachusetts

“America’s social contract is in tatters, and the moment to rewrite it is now. To do so requires new voices with new ideas that will reanimate our democracy. Mitchell Weiss is one such voice, and We the Possibility provides exactly the kind of framework we need to make our new ideas a reality and help deliver a better democracy.”

—ALEC ROSS, author, New York Times bestseller, The Industries of the Future; former Senior Adviser for Innovation to the US Secretary of State

“We the Possibility is an important book for public-sector leaders looking to build bridges between government and top innovators in science and technology. To bend the arc of progress toward public good, we must confront the dilemmas of emerging technology by shifting our mindset to public-sector entrepreneurship.”

—ASH CARTER, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School; former US Secretary of Defense

“Mitch Weiss is one of the world’s best thinkers about government innovation—and I’ve been waiting years for him to write a book. I’m pleased to say it’s been worth the wait. We the Possibility is chock-full of great ideas for transforming the public sector. Essential reading for anyone who wishes government was more capable and creative—this book shows how that dream can become a reality.”

—ROHAN SILVA, former Senior Policy Adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron

“This extraordinary book vanquishes the idea that government innovation is an oxymoron. The status quo, Weiss reminds us, can present the biggest risk of all. Through deft combinations of public-sector adventure stories and thoughtful analysis, Weiss leads readers out of the dead ends of binary thinking (government = bad; tech sector = good—or vice versa) and into a world in which government is as flexible, imaginative, and hopeful as the people it serves.”

—JENNIFER BRADLEY, founding Director, Center for Urban Innovation, Aspen Institute

“Innovation is hard. Innovation in government is a lot harder. Mitch Weiss, one of the leading experts on civic innovation, has written an inspiring and practical guide to the art of the possible, of actually getting new things done in government.”

—DAN DOCTOROFF, founder and CEO, Sidewalk Labs

“As the mayor of one of America’s largest cities, I know that governments are too often tied to staid approaches to keep pace with a rapidly changing country. That was true even before we began trying to address a global pandemic, civil unrest, demands to address longstanding racial inequities, the threat of climate change, the impact of automation and globalization on our workforce, mass unemployment, and a lack of access to affordable housing and health care. Fortunately, this book provides a road map for local leaders who want to create a culture of public entrepreneurship that encourages the kind of fresh thinking that can lead us to the innovative solutions our times require.”

—ERIC JOHNSON, Mayor of Dallas, TX

“Now more than ever, policy makers must ask what’s possible rather than settling for what’s probable. Mayors often feel as though we’re supposed to stick with what we know. But to meet the demands of the largest problems of our day—Covid-19, climate change, racial justice—we must innovate and accept the risk that it might not all work. We need to build, measure, and learn. We the Possibility provides a guide and, importantly, the inspiration and insight we need to step into the unknown in pursuit of the best solutions to meet our communities’ needs today and well into the future.”

—LAUREN MCLEAN, Mayor of Boise, ID

“We the Possibility is full of stories I loved reading. They demonstrate how we can be more open to taking calculated risks. The distinction the book draws between probability and possibility government is illuminating, and something I would like to remind myself as I govern.”

—NAN WHALEY, Mayor of Dayton, OH

“At a time when our problems seem to be getting bigger and bigger and our minds and hearts seem to be getting smaller and smaller, governments need to be able to try more, fail more, and succeed more. Mitch Weiss offers us a way forward through Possibility Government, presenting practical and thoughtful solutions for how we can generate new ideas, test them, and replicate good ones.”

—NAHEED NENSHI, Mayor of Calgary, Alberta

“We see increasing public frustration with government’s inability to find answers to the basic problems at the forefront of our everyday lives. As a mayor in today’s evolving and escalating web of challenges, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for government to deliver answers that will actually improve people’s lives. Amid this paralysis, Professor Weiss brings critical lessons for leaders of governments in a time of unprecedented need. We the Possibility defines what’s lacking in government problem solving and maps out a path forward for governments to actually innovate and meet the challenges of today.”

—TIM KELLER, Mayor of Albuquerque, NM