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Jeff Hobbs

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April 2007

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Jeff Hobbs grew up in Kennett Square, PA and graduated from Yale in 2002 with a BA in English Language and Literature. He is the author of Seeking Shelter (and Amazon Best Book of 2025 so far) and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace (winner of the LA Times Book Prize and NY Times notable book of the year), Show Them You’re Good, and Children of the State. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. He does not like criticizing the work of others and so only posts books on Goodreads to which he can earnestly give four or five stars.

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This book reads as a labor of love in honor of a lost friend, but you also candidly mentioned your temporarily stalled writing career. Did you experience any internal struggle transitioning from Rob's friend to Shawn's biographer? Would Rob have wanted his story told? Did it ever feel like retelling his story for your gain? I don't believe this was your aim, but I also don’t know how you’d escape these worries.

Jeff Hobbs Hello, you bring up a very valid concern for readers, as well as an undercurrent that I've struggled with throughout the last few years, and still do.…moreHello, you bring up a very valid concern for readers, as well as an undercurrent that I've struggled with throughout the last few years, and still do. Was I a friend who, stunned and in mourning, sought to give Rob's life the meaning that the circumstances of his death so suddenly ripped from it? Or was I a writer exploiting these circumstances in order to publish a book? Obviously, the answer is the former -- and something worth mentioning is that, in accordance with Jackie Peace's wishes, the proceeds from this book are going toward a scholarship to St. Benedict's prep. But even so, how to escape the residue of the latter? When I first sat down with Jackie Peace to discuss finding and telling Rob's story (this was a little over three years ago), I said that I, and the many dozens of people who loved Rob, wanted to tell the story of his life, not his death. And I told her that there was minimal chance of this story ever being published, but at the very least some record would exist, even if it was a stack of looseleaf paper in her attic. I added that even if it was in fact published, there wasn't a significant readership for a book like this (not exactly beach reading). This was a story told out of grief, guilt -- and love. The fact that, three years of fairly grueling and emotionally difficult work later, this book has been published, reviewed well, and read by a few, is a tribute and testament to what a huge character Rob was, and to his special skill at connecting to just about everyone. It also means that I did the hard work and then stayed out of the way of it well enough to allow him to continue doing that. I'm proud of that, but this is a collective triumph of many people, Jackie Peace above all. But still, I can't take my name off the cover of the book, or do much to allay the suspicions of anyone inclined to question the intention here. My hope is that the book and my role in it speaks for itself in that way. As for your other question, which is a more interesting one -- whether or not Rob would have wanted his story told -- that has also been a struggle, because as you read in the book, he was a private guy. But he was also a teacher -- a pretty great teacher -- and if his story can be used to impact people, particularly young people, and illuminate the invisible burdens that so many people of all backgrounds carry, we all came to feel that he would put himself forward, bravely, in this way. He had a real talent for drawing people outside of the bubbles we all inhabit day by day. And the hope all along is that he might continue to do just that.(less)

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Your newborn son’s middle name is Peace. What qualities of your late friend do you most hope the baby grows up to exhibit?

Jeff Hobbs Dear Sara, thank you so much for this question. I think about this often when I look at the little man (which is to say every day, dozens of times a d…moreDear Sara, thank you so much for this question. I think about this often when I look at the little man (which is to say every day, dozens of times a day). I hope that Whit Peace Hobbs has his namesake's curiosity, generosity, and empathy -- and also much more peace in his life.

Many thanks, Jeff(less)

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Jeff Hobbs’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 31,269 ratings · 3,519 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League 4.14 avg rating — 29,157 ratings — published 2014 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America 4.37 avg rating — 1,082 ratings — published 2025 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Children of the State: Stories of Survival and Hope in the Juvenile Justice System 4.02 avg rating — 451 ratings — published 2023 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Show Them You're Good: A Portrait of Boys in the City of Angels the Year before College 3.71 avg rating — 331 ratings — published 2020 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Tourists liked it 3.00 avg rating — 248 ratings — published 2007 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Tourists: A Novel Paperback August 12, 2008 by Jeff Hobbs (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Jeff Hobbs's Blog

Seeking Shelter on Amazon’s Best Books of 2025 (so far) list

Review from the Amazon editors:

“Evelyn is fiercely protective of her children — helping each one finish their homework every night, creating a safe place for them to sleep and play, surrounding them with her mighty love and dreams for their future. She is also homeless — and readers of this narrative nonfiction are along for the ride of their unbelievable struggle for survival. (Literally, as the Read more of this blog post »

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Published on June 11, 2025 11:12

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Jeff is Currently Reading

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A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)

by George R.R. Martin

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Sep 04, 2014 01:51PM

Jeff rated a book really liked it

On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen

by Harold McGee

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in June 2007

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Jeff said: " This isn't a cook book...but I refer to it more often than recipes when I'm cooking...answers every question, from what happens on molecular level when you beat an egg white to why some cuts of meat are better for grilling and others for roasting, et ...more "

Jun 16, 2007 09:45AM · see review

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Jeff’s Recent Updates

Jeff made a comment on Catherine’s review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America " Thank you so much for taking the time to read these books and be so thoughtful in sharing your reflections. It means a lot, sincerely, Jeff "
Jul 07, 2026 06:59PM · see review
Jeff and 2 other people liked Catherine's review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America: "Jeff Hobbs is a remarkable investigative journalist. I first encountered his work when I read "The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace". "Seeking Shelter" continually reminded me of "Random Family" by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, in a dichotomous way. "S" Read more of this review »
Jul 07, 2026 06:59PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff liked briz's review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America: "Really gripping journalistic account of a woman, her 5 kids, and their homelessness in LA. Written in a lyrical, evocative style - which I found occasionally pretentious but mostly affecting. The mom is trying to do right by her kids: she imagines th" Read more of this review »
Jul 07, 2026 06:59PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff made a comment on Ellen F’s review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America " Thank you for taking the time to read and post your thoughtful reflections. It means a lot, sincerely. Evelyn and kids are doing well! "
Jul 07, 2026 06:58PM · see review
Jeff liked Ellen F's review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America: "Outstanding true story of a single working mother-of-six's five-year struggle with homelessness while she fought for her children to get the best education possible."
Jul 07, 2026 06:58PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff and 1 other person liked Heather Williams's review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America: "Not a book I would normally read. But very interesting, sad and eye opening. I think everyone should read a book like this once and awhile"
Jul 07, 2026 06:58PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff made a comment on Jamie Madden’s review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America " Thank you Jamie, means a lot, sincerely, Jeff "
Jul 07, 2026 06:57PM · see review
Jeff is now following Jamie Madden's reviews
Jul 07, 2026 06:57PM · like
Jeff made a comment on Melissa’s review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America " Thank you for the time reading and being so thoughtful about reviewing, it means a lot, sincerely, Jeff "
Jul 07, 2026 06:56PM · see review
Jeff made a comment on Halley’s review of Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America " Thank you for reading and being so thoughtful. It means a lot, really. Evelyn and kids are doing well! "
Jul 07, 2026 06:55PM · see review

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Quotes by Jeff Hobbs (?)

“If you want to, and you don’t, then that’s on you.”
― Jeff Hobbs, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League

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“Look, anything you do, if it isn’t hard, it isn’t doing anything for you. So you’re better off not doing it. Use your time somewhere else.”
― Jeff Hobbs, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League

11 likes

“Like a bird handled by humans whose flock would not accept it back, Rob now wore the unwashable scent of the Ivy League.”
― Jeff Hobbs, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League

6 likes

See all Jeff Hobbs's quotes »

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