In conclusion, I give this book zero stars for being an inspiring, practical manual for civic engagement and therefore deeply harmful to my preferred style of governance: grumbling loudly enough that everyone else gives up.

And since the title insists “you’ve got to fight,” consider this your official notice: Nimbee challenges you to a fight. Not a metaphorical policy fight - an actual, physical duel in the Whole Foods parking lot, preferably near the EV chargers where nobody parks anyway. You pick the weapon.

The book is basically a step-by-step guide to preventing me from getting my way. It encourages showing up, organizing, and - most offensively - winning. Carter, sweetie, the only thing I want winning is my 1987 Volvo criusing through streets you YIMBYs made worse with your “road diets.”

Lavin claims that “ordinary residents can drive change,” which is rich coming from someone who has clearly never tried to stop a bike lane in Takoma Park using nothing but a shaking printout of crash statistics and a deeply personal anecdote about “community character.”

I only read "If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight" because I assumed it was about losing zoning battles. But no. It's a relentless pep talk urging normal people to get involved instead of letting well-seasoned obstructionists such as myself maintain our sacred monopoly on public-comment time.

Corridors? More like Bore-idors.

I miss my parking

Don't they know that boomers get entitlements even when they're dead?

Squash it!

I would, but I'll bee in DC that day telling a bunch of developers to buzz off