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With the fiftieth anniversary of Robert Kennedy's assassination approaching in June 2018, Matthews (Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked, 2013) reflects on the familial, personal, professional, and political dynamics that transformed Bobby Kennedy from a loyal, if underappreciated, son and brother into an ambitious yet humane civic leader. Having grown up in the shadow of his revered older brothers Joe Jr. and Jack, Bobby struggled to find his own place in the world. Catapulted into the political arena through Jack's runs for office, Bobby was a reluctant soldier in those campaigns, yet his influence and wisdom were essential during critical times: the Cuban missile crisis, civil-rights uprisings, the Vietnam War protests, and the aftermath of his brother Jack's assassination. Through it all, Bobby discovered a passion for righting injustices and fighting for basic human decency that would compel him to launch his own presidential bid. A child of that era himself, best-selling Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, regards RFK's legacy through personal recollections and cogently illustrates leadership qualities Kennedy possessed that are sorely lacking in today's divisive culture.--Haggas, Carol Copyright 2017 Booklist

Publishers Weekly
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Matthews, author and host of MSNBC's Hardball, capably narrates the audio edition of his biography of Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy, published 50 years after R.F.K.'s assassination. Matthews reveals the young R.F.K. as a man caught in the shadows of his two older brothers. Joe Kennedy Jr., the favored son of his father, who was killed during WWII, and John F. Kennedy, who was a decorated war hero and president of the United States. Matthews does an excellent job of showing the evolution of R.F.K as an up-and-coming politician from a prominent family who manages, through family tragedies and political tribulations, to mature into a man with deep convictions. Those unfamiliar with Matthews's television persona may find his hoarse voice and fast, clipped pacing off-putting, and the occasional oddly placed pause in the middle of a sentence gives his reading an unusual cadence, but his enthusiasm and admiration for his subject easily grab the attention of listeners. Matthews's presentation is clear enough to satisfy his fans, as well as listeners looking for a general R.F.K. biography. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Library Journal
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Matthews (Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero), the host of MSNBC's Hardball, offers an anecdotal and engaging biography of Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy (1925-68), emphasizing his broad public appeal during the 1960s, when the then-junior senator was revered by the working and middle classes and minorities. The author challenges the conventional view that Kennedy was largely unaware of poverty and discrimination until he suffered the death of his brother John F. Kennedy. Rather, Matthews says, Bobby developed empathy for these groups while serving as an enlisted seaman. As a child, Kennedy sought but did not win his father's approval, giving him an appreciation for the underdog. This book offers a sketchy recounting of Kennedy's life, from his troubled youth, through his years working for Sen. Joe McCarthy and running John's successful 1960 presidential campaign to his own fatal campaign for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination. Matthews includes interesting stories about his own years as a graduate student and participant in antiwar rallies, and what Kennedy meant to him during that time. VERDICT Both Evan Thomas's Robert Kennedy, and Larry Tye's Bobby Kennedy are deeply researched, comprehensive biographies. Matthews's less substantial but more personal work will appeal to general readers who want to understand the spirit of the times.-Karl Helicher, formerly with Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.