Robert Kennedy: His Life

My book club read a book about JFK last year (Two Days in June by Andrew Cohen), which I enjoyed. In that book, I read about Robert Kennedy's role in his brother's cabinet; I learned that Robert was a devoted father; and I learned that I wanted to know more about him. This biography by Evan Thomas is very good...it's detailed and written in an engaging style. It shows how RFK evolved over time, and how his brother's assassination affected him. I was moved at the end, and can't help but wonder what would have happened had he become president of the U.S.

Evan Thomas does a creditably job chronicling the life of Bobby Kennedy. He shows him in all the good and all the bad. Most importantly, Thomas showed that Bobby was an evolutionary man, matured, saddened and profoundly changed by his brother's murder.

I was tremendously moved by the story, reinforcing my belief that for all the good and all the bad, his assasination profoundly changed our nation for the worse.

A thorough review of the life of Robert Kennedy, from his upbringing and family dynamics until his run for the presidency. This newer biography shows a truer narrative of the complex man -- who went from a quiet and unassuming young man to a hard-hitting campaign manager who helped get his brother elected president... to a great attorney general and adviser to the JFK... along the way, fighting communism and organized crime... and eventually finding his passion helping those oppressed and in poverty. Amazing research and primary and secondary source materials. Hoover and LBJ -- and to some extent Kennedy himself -- come off tarnished... but also human.

An excellent book, sort of an update to Schlesinger. The author focuses on the change and growth of the man, which is key to understanding what some describe as contradictions in his character.

A good read and a balanced account of RFK's at times complex character.

Definitely the best biography of RFK. It is fair and balanced and not hagiography.

NYTimes:This judicious and through book is likely to be the most comprehensive and balanced study of the life and career of Robert F. Kennedy for a long time to come. .... For me, I was looking for more personal information than given here. The political information was interesting, but when it entered into the many names of political characters I did not recognize, I must admit, I was bored. This book also adamantly denies any evidence that Bobby had an affair with Jackie, which other authors say they had. This author, Evan Thomas, states, that after the assassination of JFK, Ethyl Kennedy was concerned about Jackie, and told Bobby she would "share" him with Jackie. A good book for those who are Political Science majors.