
Pursuing a Public Life
How to Succeed in the Political Arena
Sergio Marchi(Author)
Dundurn Press
Published on 15. January 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
328 pages
978-1-4597-5609-0 (ISBN)
Description
Do you relish the thought of serving in public life, but don't know where to start? With the honesty of experience, distinguished politician Sergio Marchi clearly spells out all the practical steps that you need to follow.
"A call to action for those ready to serve Canada with courage, compassion, and vision." --Hon. Melanie Joly
Our politics are currently suffering formidable challenges. Our national discourse has become more polarized, increasingly divisive, and notably nastier. Consequently, many people are keeping their distance from public life, rejecting a political system that they deem broken and unrepairable. Public opinion surveys consistently reveal that public cynicism is at a record high, coupled by declining voter turnout. Many people are disengaged from public life.
The Honourable Sergio Marchi -- city councillor, member of Parliament, cabinet minister, and ambassador -- relates his experiences over his thirty-year political career. He shares the adventures, policy decisions, and lessons learned in an effort to shed light on the inner workings of a public life, from nomination meetings, to campaigning, to governing, to make it easier for those interested in making a difference to take the plunge into an exciting, meaningful, and purposeful profession.
"A call to action for those ready to serve Canada with courage, compassion, and vision." --Hon. Melanie Joly
Our politics are currently suffering formidable challenges. Our national discourse has become more polarized, increasingly divisive, and notably nastier. Consequently, many people are keeping their distance from public life, rejecting a political system that they deem broken and unrepairable. Public opinion surveys consistently reveal that public cynicism is at a record high, coupled by declining voter turnout. Many people are disengaged from public life.
The Honourable Sergio Marchi -- city councillor, member of Parliament, cabinet minister, and ambassador -- relates his experiences over his thirty-year political career. He shares the adventures, policy decisions, and lessons learned in an effort to shed light on the inner workings of a public life, from nomination meetings, to campaigning, to governing, to make it easier for those interested in making a difference to take the plunge into an exciting, meaningful, and purposeful profession.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Publishing group
The Dundurn Group
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
30 b&w illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4597-5609-0 (9781459756090)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2025
Dundurn Press
€13.49
Available for download
Persons
Sergio Marchi has led a distinguished public life, as a community activist, city councillor, a Member of Parliament, and Minister for International Trade, Environment, and Citizenship and Immigration. After voluntarily leaving the political arena, he was appointed Canadian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Agencies in Geneva. He lives in Quebec.