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Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters
From the host of Hardball with Chris Matthews (now on Substack) and acclaimed Kennedy biographer comes a centennial tribute about why Robert F. Kennedy’s revolutionary vision offers the roadmap America needs today.
100 years after his birth, Bobby Kennedy matters more than ever. That is because he led us in pursuit of America’s ideals. He took risks for peace and united a fractured country. He showed moral courage and political bravery. In today’s bitterly divided nation, his message has the power to help us reimagine a better future.
On the historic occasion of Bobby Kennedy’s centennial, Chris Matthews, one of America’s foremost political commentators and Kennedy biographers, gives us ten electrifying lessons for today drawn from Bobby’s life. Take them as a guide. America is great when it tries, at its best, to be good.
This special anniversary book also includes a selection of Bobby Kennedy’s greatest speeches, which, when read today, offer a renewed and inspiring vision for America.
100 years after his birth, Bobby Kennedy matters more than ever. That is because he led us in pursuit of America’s ideals. He took risks for peace and united a fractured country. He showed moral courage and political bravery. In today’s bitterly divided nation, his message has the power to help us reimagine a better future.
On the historic occasion of Bobby Kennedy’s centennial, Chris Matthews, one of America’s foremost political commentators and Kennedy biographers, gives us ten electrifying lessons for today drawn from Bobby’s life. Take them as a guide. America is great when it tries, at its best, to be good.
This special anniversary book also includes a selection of Bobby Kennedy’s greatest speeches, which, when read today, offer a renewed and inspiring vision for America.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
90 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Chris Matthews
87 books164 followersChristopher John “Chris” Matthews is widely respected for his in-depth knowledge of politics. Now retired, he was a nightly host, news anchor and political commentator on MSNBC (1997-2020), a Washington, D.C. bureau chief for the newspaper, San Francisco Examiner (1987–2000), a Chief of Staff to long-time Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O'Neill, a Carter era presidential speech writer, and penned a number of bestselling books, to name a small part of his impressive resume. Chris has been married to Kathleen (née Cunningham) since 1980 and they share three children and several grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 16, 2025
I wish the first half of this book had focused more on RFK and less on Trump, but apparently Matthews REALLY wanted to show the sharp contrast between the two. Kennedy's lessons should be studied and copied in this time.
December 30, 2025
As a RFK admirer, I was excited to get into this short and impactful book. However, I agree with the majority here that there was too much talk of current politics, especially jabs at Trump. While I fully agree with the points Matthews made, and I find the juxtaposition between the two political figures fascinating, I believe that by attempting to insight Bobby’s wisdom for the next generation, Matthews lost sight of his audience. While the focus was on why what Bobby did and said mattered in the context of politics, running a campaign, representing the people, etc., I would bet the majority of readers of this book are young, idealistic people who want to learn more about a figure they admire. That is to say, not the politicians themselves that Matthews wishes would do better. Matthews is preaching to the choir in a way, by saying that Trump is failing at upholding these fundamentals of strong leadership. Yeah, we know that! What readers are likely more interested in hearing is how leaders can be different, more compassionate, and less selfish. This was too short of a book to spend half of each lesson discussing current politics, under the guise of offering a different solution to what is not working today.
I did love the inclusion of the speeches. Mindless menace of violence made me cry like always.
I did love the inclusion of the speeches. Mindless menace of violence made me cry like always.
January 31, 2026
Robert F Kennedy was only 42 and running for President in June 1968 when his life was ended by assassination, robbing the U.S. of potentially a good, maybe great leader.
Political analyst and author, Chris Matthews has written this very short book, essentially 10 lessons promoted by RFK, which if followed and developed, could be a pathway to become a good and effective person and leader. Not just the lessons, there are a lot of stories about RFK mostly around the time of his decision to run for President, and his brief campaign. A lot is revealed about his character and his motivation to run to be a unifier for the country in a turbulent time. The book includes some of his better known speeches, one immediately following MLK’s killing, and one delivered at a South African college opposing apartheid. Included is his brother Ted’s eulogy at RFK’s funeral.
Good and informative book which could motivate a reader to pick up an RFK biography.
Political analyst and author, Chris Matthews has written this very short book, essentially 10 lessons promoted by RFK, which if followed and developed, could be a pathway to become a good and effective person and leader. Not just the lessons, there are a lot of stories about RFK mostly around the time of his decision to run for President, and his brief campaign. A lot is revealed about his character and his motivation to run to be a unifier for the country in a turbulent time. The book includes some of his better known speeches, one immediately following MLK’s killing, and one delivered at a South African college opposing apartheid. Included is his brother Ted’s eulogy at RFK’s funeral.
Good and informative book which could motivate a reader to pick up an RFK biography.
December 12, 2025
There was nothing wrong with this book and of course Bobby Kennedy was an inspiration.
I was really disappointed with this book however as it focused too much on the politics of today, and too much on Trump, rather than giving the reader more insight into Bobby.
I was really disappointed with this book however as it focused too much on the politics of today, and too much on Trump, rather than giving the reader more insight into Bobby.
January 7, 2026
Bobby Kennedy
- A short book and if I took a ton of notes I would be writing half the book. I love Bobby, he is a hero of mine. I love this book
- Bobby loved cops, at the DOJ he knew ever officers name. His greatest value was personal responsibility. He was a lawyer and obeyed the law. He grappled with the revolution of the ‘60s, social justice, and his law and order views
- He has no court room experience when he became AG
- He was not against civil rights, he had just ‘not given much thought to the plight of the negro.’ When UVA hosted a Nobel Peace Prize winner in ‘50 when Bobby was at law school, he demanded it was a desegregated audience. But until Jack came into office Bobby was little concerned with civil rights. As many things in his life, once Bobby saw it up front or it affected someone he knew, then it grabbed his attention. It was Bobby’s Justice Department that desegregated Alabama
- He met with migrants and farm workers
- During the missile crisis he was initially was a hawk but soon supported Jack in avoiding military action
- Jack’s greatest value was courage
- Some of these things are counter to the rose glasses of Bobby. I know he was a complex man, he was not perfect, and he was not a bleeding heart liberal
- One of the reasons he chose to run in ‘68 was the Tet Offensive, showing how weak the South Vietnamese government was. There was a commission, report, something showing how divided America was, that was another big influence. He could have run in ‘72, it might have been easier
- He believed that to have a peaceful liberal society, there needed to be law and justice. There could not be violence or disorder. He was against the riots that ensued after King’s death
- Personally or as Jack’s campaign manager, he only lost one election. He lost the Oregon primary a week before his death. He did not have a strong campaign manager, unlike himself running Jack’s campaigns
- Publicly he referred to him as President Kennedy, not Jack or my brother
- Jackie told Arthur Schlesinger, she thought Bobby would have the same fate as Jack
- His last words were ‘is everyone alright’
- He was a funny, kind hearted, open minded, and complex human being
-
- The last half of the book is Bobby speeches
- His most famous speech, Day Of Affirmation, the Ripple Of Hope speech. He spoke to students at the University of Cape Town. He spoke on the power of youth movements, individual liberty, freedom, and spoke against apartheid.
- I never knew about this speech, absolutely incredible
- The mindless menace of violence speech, speech on MLK’s assassination, Cleveland, Kansas - so many powerful speeches
- The California primary was the last primary, June 6th, 1968
- I listened to live recordings of the speech’s. Book has Chris Matthew’s read the speech’s
- He was funny - Kansas speech
- The Kansas speech, my god, that is one of my favorites. Listen to that one again. Lots of anti Vietnam and hope for the future. The George Bernard Shaw, ‘I dream of a world …’ quote
- I now have a Kennedy speeches playlist. Why haven’t I had this since college. I could work out to these speeches
- Important to remember that he was the most catholic of his siblings and his mother’s favorite
- There was no reason for him to care for others, to go to Appalachia, to say or do the things he did. He was remarkably aware of his privilege. He had immense wealth and privilege, but he did care for others, for the poor, the disenfranchised, people around the world, for all those that suffer. I love Bobby so much, I think of him like the prince born in a castle but leaves the walls and becomes the Buddha
- I loved this book
- A short book and if I took a ton of notes I would be writing half the book. I love Bobby, he is a hero of mine. I love this book
- Bobby loved cops, at the DOJ he knew ever officers name. His greatest value was personal responsibility. He was a lawyer and obeyed the law. He grappled with the revolution of the ‘60s, social justice, and his law and order views
- He has no court room experience when he became AG
- He was not against civil rights, he had just ‘not given much thought to the plight of the negro.’ When UVA hosted a Nobel Peace Prize winner in ‘50 when Bobby was at law school, he demanded it was a desegregated audience. But until Jack came into office Bobby was little concerned with civil rights. As many things in his life, once Bobby saw it up front or it affected someone he knew, then it grabbed his attention. It was Bobby’s Justice Department that desegregated Alabama
- He met with migrants and farm workers
- During the missile crisis he was initially was a hawk but soon supported Jack in avoiding military action
- Jack’s greatest value was courage
- Some of these things are counter to the rose glasses of Bobby. I know he was a complex man, he was not perfect, and he was not a bleeding heart liberal
- One of the reasons he chose to run in ‘68 was the Tet Offensive, showing how weak the South Vietnamese government was. There was a commission, report, something showing how divided America was, that was another big influence. He could have run in ‘72, it might have been easier
- He believed that to have a peaceful liberal society, there needed to be law and justice. There could not be violence or disorder. He was against the riots that ensued after King’s death
- Personally or as Jack’s campaign manager, he only lost one election. He lost the Oregon primary a week before his death. He did not have a strong campaign manager, unlike himself running Jack’s campaigns
- Publicly he referred to him as President Kennedy, not Jack or my brother
- Jackie told Arthur Schlesinger, she thought Bobby would have the same fate as Jack
- His last words were ‘is everyone alright’
- He was a funny, kind hearted, open minded, and complex human being
-
- The last half of the book is Bobby speeches
- His most famous speech, Day Of Affirmation, the Ripple Of Hope speech. He spoke to students at the University of Cape Town. He spoke on the power of youth movements, individual liberty, freedom, and spoke against apartheid.
- I never knew about this speech, absolutely incredible
- The mindless menace of violence speech, speech on MLK’s assassination, Cleveland, Kansas - so many powerful speeches
- The California primary was the last primary, June 6th, 1968
- I listened to live recordings of the speech’s. Book has Chris Matthew’s read the speech’s
- He was funny - Kansas speech
- The Kansas speech, my god, that is one of my favorites. Listen to that one again. Lots of anti Vietnam and hope for the future. The George Bernard Shaw, ‘I dream of a world …’ quote
- I now have a Kennedy speeches playlist. Why haven’t I had this since college. I could work out to these speeches
- Important to remember that he was the most catholic of his siblings and his mother’s favorite
- There was no reason for him to care for others, to go to Appalachia, to say or do the things he did. He was remarkably aware of his privilege. He had immense wealth and privilege, but he did care for others, for the poor, the disenfranchised, people around the world, for all those that suffer. I love Bobby so much, I think of him like the prince born in a castle but leaves the walls and becomes the Buddha
- I loved this book
November 1, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and of course Chris Matthews for the the advance ARC in return for an honest review.
This wonderful little book ( a mere 176 pages ) is full of inspiring anecdotes and historical tid bits involving the evolution of Robert F Kennedy from DOJ lawyer, to the campaign manager for JFK, the Attorney General of the United States, US Senator. and ultimately the populist Democratic candidate for the presidency in 1968.
Having met Chris Matthews while giving interviews regarding Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero ( another wonderful read ) and having read his previous RFK book, Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit ( also a great read ) this is a little short on details but full of the hope and aspirations RFK had for this wonderful country despite the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Jim Crow policies of the South, and the continued racial unrest resulting in the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The lessons referenced in the Title include:
Heal the Divide
Have Some Guts
Admit Your Mistakes
Pursue Ideals
Uphold Human Rights
Seek Peace
Enforce the Law
Be Tough
Know When to Concede
Sacrifice.
With each lesson, Matthews points out where we are currently ( with many references to Trump and his sycophants in Congress and the Senate ) and how we, as Americans, and especially Democrats, can learn, as RFK did, on how to handle these problems with dignity and grace, and a hope for a better tomorrow. I would have liked to have seen a little more depth about RFK and his journey related to each of these lessons, as they are only 5-10 pages at most. Nonetheless, these lessons are reminders of what once was and what could hopefully be again in 4 years ( if not after the midterms next year ).
As an added bonus, Matthews includes several famous Speeches of RFK including his speech in South Africa, on the night of MLK's assassination and his victory speech on the night he too was assassinated after winning the California and SD primaries.
There are more in depth looks at RFK's life ( including Matthew's earlier works ) but this little reminder of the hope for America that RFK argued for in 1968 might be just what we need today.
This wonderful little book ( a mere 176 pages ) is full of inspiring anecdotes and historical tid bits involving the evolution of Robert F Kennedy from DOJ lawyer, to the campaign manager for JFK, the Attorney General of the United States, US Senator. and ultimately the populist Democratic candidate for the presidency in 1968.
Having met Chris Matthews while giving interviews regarding Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero ( another wonderful read ) and having read his previous RFK book, Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit ( also a great read ) this is a little short on details but full of the hope and aspirations RFK had for this wonderful country despite the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Jim Crow policies of the South, and the continued racial unrest resulting in the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The lessons referenced in the Title include:
Heal the Divide
Have Some Guts
Admit Your Mistakes
Pursue Ideals
Uphold Human Rights
Seek Peace
Enforce the Law
Be Tough
Know When to Concede
Sacrifice.
With each lesson, Matthews points out where we are currently ( with many references to Trump and his sycophants in Congress and the Senate ) and how we, as Americans, and especially Democrats, can learn, as RFK did, on how to handle these problems with dignity and grace, and a hope for a better tomorrow. I would have liked to have seen a little more depth about RFK and his journey related to each of these lessons, as they are only 5-10 pages at most. Nonetheless, these lessons are reminders of what once was and what could hopefully be again in 4 years ( if not after the midterms next year ).
As an added bonus, Matthews includes several famous Speeches of RFK including his speech in South Africa, on the night of MLK's assassination and his victory speech on the night he too was assassinated after winning the California and SD primaries.
There are more in depth looks at RFK's life ( including Matthew's earlier works ) but this little reminder of the hope for America that RFK argued for in 1968 might be just what we need today.
November 30, 2025
I read and deeply appreciated Chris Matthews' earlier full biography of Bobby Kennedy. Phenomenal book. Chris Matthews is an absolute scholar of all things Bobby Kennedy. This fell flat for me. The "ten reasons" format is a gimmicky approach, and of course Bobby Kennedy still matters. Mattering is a low bar to reach for. I did appreciate some of the thoughts, though, and maybe I could have gotten past that. But I listened to the audiobook, as read by the author, and after the 10 things, it went off the rails.
Chris started reading a handful of Bobby Kennedy's speeches!! No, Chris didn't reproduce the actual recordings of the speeches, so we could hear Bobby Kennedy's own beautiful voice and words, with his intonations and pronunciations and his personality and all the other things inherent in a voice and a speech and the reactions to it. His voice especially carried so much power and meaning and emotion. And we could have heard the reactions of the audience. No, Chris didn't do that. Chris read Bobby's speeches his own self. We got Bobby Kennedy as performed by Chris Matthews!
I thought perhaps not all these speeches were recorded. But some of them certainly were and Chris still "performed" them, if you could call it that. Or maybe Chris couldn't get the rights to reproduce them, but why not??? And did he try?
Chris could have done a much better of job introducing each speech - more than just the date and place he gave us. What was going on? Who was there? What was the backdrop and the importance? In his last speech after winning the California primary, who are all the people he is thanking and what were their connections to him?
I felt the book, and the speeches in particular, did Bobby Kennedy and the public a disservice. It felt like Chris was in a hurry to get it done and out.
One way of showing that great man still matters would be to let him speak. Let us hear his thoughts and ideas in his own voice. A lot of your readers were not alive during Bobby Kennedy's lifetime. You could have built them a better bridge back to him. That was a missed opportunity and it made me sad.
Chris started reading a handful of Bobby Kennedy's speeches!! No, Chris didn't reproduce the actual recordings of the speeches, so we could hear Bobby Kennedy's own beautiful voice and words, with his intonations and pronunciations and his personality and all the other things inherent in a voice and a speech and the reactions to it. His voice especially carried so much power and meaning and emotion. And we could have heard the reactions of the audience. No, Chris didn't do that. Chris read Bobby's speeches his own self. We got Bobby Kennedy as performed by Chris Matthews!
I thought perhaps not all these speeches were recorded. But some of them certainly were and Chris still "performed" them, if you could call it that. Or maybe Chris couldn't get the rights to reproduce them, but why not??? And did he try?
Chris could have done a much better of job introducing each speech - more than just the date and place he gave us. What was going on? Who was there? What was the backdrop and the importance? In his last speech after winning the California primary, who are all the people he is thanking and what were their connections to him?
I felt the book, and the speeches in particular, did Bobby Kennedy and the public a disservice. It felt like Chris was in a hurry to get it done and out.
One way of showing that great man still matters would be to let him speak. Let us hear his thoughts and ideas in his own voice. A lot of your readers were not alive during Bobby Kennedy's lifetime. You could have built them a better bridge back to him. That was a missed opportunity and it made me sad.
October 20, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Fun fact: when I found out I was having a boy, the leading contenders for names were Robert and John for the Kennedy brothers. My husband was fully on board. That one of the names was my mother’s family name was secondary. That is how powerful my admiration for what the men did with their political power held me.
It seems Chris Matthews is equally enamored with Bobby Kennedy; he’s written several books about RFK. This short book is not a comprehensive biography. It contains just the basics of Kennedy’s life, and how he evolved as a person to be filled with empathy for the less fortunate, more marginalized communities across the United States.
The ten lessons included in the book are:
Heal the Divide
Have Some Guts
Admit Your Mistakes
Pursue Ideals
Uphold Human Rights
Seek Peace
Enforce the Law
Be Tough
Know When to Concede
Sacrifice
Each lesson gives examples of How Bobby Kennedy handled certain things, from his growing concern over civil rights to the abject poverty of portions of the country. Matthews also points the finger at the current regime and how they have been systematically removing protections for the most vulnerable people in our society. The fact that the United States is now on the WHO’s Human Rights Watchlist is telling.
What’s also telling is that most of the book espouses Kennedy’s compassion and empathy, something that is wholly missing from his namesake, currently holding the Cabinet position of Secretary of Health and Human Services. The book emphasizes moral courage, social‑justice activism, and a hopeful vision for America, something Junior is severely lacking.
Another bonus of this book is that most of Robert Kennedy’s most famous speeches are included at the end of the book. They’re full of hope for our country.
Fun fact: when I found out I was having a boy, the leading contenders for names were Robert and John for the Kennedy brothers. My husband was fully on board. That one of the names was my mother’s family name was secondary. That is how powerful my admiration for what the men did with their political power held me.
It seems Chris Matthews is equally enamored with Bobby Kennedy; he’s written several books about RFK. This short book is not a comprehensive biography. It contains just the basics of Kennedy’s life, and how he evolved as a person to be filled with empathy for the less fortunate, more marginalized communities across the United States.
The ten lessons included in the book are:
Heal the Divide
Have Some Guts
Admit Your Mistakes
Pursue Ideals
Uphold Human Rights
Seek Peace
Enforce the Law
Be Tough
Know When to Concede
Sacrifice
Each lesson gives examples of How Bobby Kennedy handled certain things, from his growing concern over civil rights to the abject poverty of portions of the country. Matthews also points the finger at the current regime and how they have been systematically removing protections for the most vulnerable people in our society. The fact that the United States is now on the WHO’s Human Rights Watchlist is telling.
What’s also telling is that most of the book espouses Kennedy’s compassion and empathy, something that is wholly missing from his namesake, currently holding the Cabinet position of Secretary of Health and Human Services. The book emphasizes moral courage, social‑justice activism, and a hopeful vision for America, something Junior is severely lacking.
Another bonus of this book is that most of Robert Kennedy’s most famous speeches are included at the end of the book. They’re full of hope for our country.
December 5, 2025
I really enjoyed the author's writing style. It's very conversational and relatable. Lessons from Bobby contains great stories of Robert F. Kennedy. There are memorable quotes that will leave the reader pondering them. It's a great inspirational book.
The author did a great job of depicting Robert F. Kennedy's character and the hope he had for the country. Kennedy had the best of intentions to unite the country. His compassion and empathy for the human race were unparalleled. He was one of the few in history who was actually working for the people.
With each lesson, Matthews would compare it to the current administration. I would've preferred not to have Trump included with every lesson. I understand the point he was trying to make by making the comparison, but it pulled me out of the book. I wholeheartedly agree that there is a wide contrast in how each man has treated the American people. Matthews did a thorough job of contrasting the two men. I would've enjoyed it more if he hadn't included him in this book. We clearly need a leader like Robert F. Kennedy today to unite Americans as he did years ago. Leaders today could learn a thing or two from his lessons.
I loved reading about Robert F. Kennedy and the good he was trying to do for the country. He was an admirable person whom I would love to read more about. I intend to read Chris Matthews' other books about Jack and Robert Kennedy.
I would've rated the book higher because I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, as well as reading about Robert F. Kennedy. However, the heavy contrast between Kennedy and Trump wasn't enjoyable. Minus the entire Trump comparison, it would've been a 5-star rating.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The author did a great job of depicting Robert F. Kennedy's character and the hope he had for the country. Kennedy had the best of intentions to unite the country. His compassion and empathy for the human race were unparalleled. He was one of the few in history who was actually working for the people.
With each lesson, Matthews would compare it to the current administration. I would've preferred not to have Trump included with every lesson. I understand the point he was trying to make by making the comparison, but it pulled me out of the book. I wholeheartedly agree that there is a wide contrast in how each man has treated the American people. Matthews did a thorough job of contrasting the two men. I would've enjoyed it more if he hadn't included him in this book. We clearly need a leader like Robert F. Kennedy today to unite Americans as he did years ago. Leaders today could learn a thing or two from his lessons.
I loved reading about Robert F. Kennedy and the good he was trying to do for the country. He was an admirable person whom I would love to read more about. I intend to read Chris Matthews' other books about Jack and Robert Kennedy.
I would've rated the book higher because I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, as well as reading about Robert F. Kennedy. However, the heavy contrast between Kennedy and Trump wasn't enjoyable. Minus the entire Trump comparison, it would've been a 5-star rating.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 12, 2026
Just finished Chris Matthews’ "Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters." It felt like a great read for RFK admirers and political history enthusiasts, but one that stops short of its full potential in my opinion.
As a longtime fan of Matthews—whom I’ve always found thoughtful and largely middle-of-the-road—I came to this book expecting a deeper exploration of how RFK’s leadership lessons might be applied in today’s complex world.
Where the book succeeds is in its historical context and Matthews' admiration and reverence for Kennedy’s moral clarity, empathy, and willingness to pursue transformational change. The inclusion of RFK’s speeches (nearly half the book) added weight and importance to the subject.
That said, I found the book missed a significant opportunity. Rather than broadening the leadership lessons beyond modern partisan divides, Matthews seems intent on bashing Donald Trump in nearly every chapter. This recurring focus detracts from the otherwise timeless leadership themes Matthews is trying to elevate. While it’s difficult to find contemporary politicians who embody Kennedy’s mystique, Matthews could have strengthened his argument by drawing from other historical figures—or even business and nonprofit leaders—who exemplify similar values.
Kennedy's lessons are applicable to anyone seeking to lead transformatively. Unfortunately, for me, that message was often overshadowed by the persistent anti-Trump framing. I finished the book appreciating the history and Kennedy’s enduring importance, but wishing the leadership insights had been more deeply developed.
As a longtime fan of Matthews—whom I’ve always found thoughtful and largely middle-of-the-road—I came to this book expecting a deeper exploration of how RFK’s leadership lessons might be applied in today’s complex world.
Where the book succeeds is in its historical context and Matthews' admiration and reverence for Kennedy’s moral clarity, empathy, and willingness to pursue transformational change. The inclusion of RFK’s speeches (nearly half the book) added weight and importance to the subject.
That said, I found the book missed a significant opportunity. Rather than broadening the leadership lessons beyond modern partisan divides, Matthews seems intent on bashing Donald Trump in nearly every chapter. This recurring focus detracts from the otherwise timeless leadership themes Matthews is trying to elevate. While it’s difficult to find contemporary politicians who embody Kennedy’s mystique, Matthews could have strengthened his argument by drawing from other historical figures—or even business and nonprofit leaders—who exemplify similar values.
Kennedy's lessons are applicable to anyone seeking to lead transformatively. Unfortunately, for me, that message was often overshadowed by the persistent anti-Trump framing. I finished the book appreciating the history and Kennedy’s enduring importance, but wishing the leadership insights had been more deeply developed.
December 3, 2025
I appreciated the 10 lessons as common sense ideals for all to live by, not just politicians. But the book and its message fell flat for me because it and its author came across as nothing more than a TDS crazed rant/ranter. Matthew’s contrasted the perceived elegance and wisdom of Bobby Kennedy with Trump’s complete lack of those virtues. He’s not all wrong, however what was glaringly missing was any critique of other politicians’ failures. He readily referred ad nauseam to January 6th and Trump’s unwillingness to admit defeat in the 2020 election. Absent was the mention of Hillary Clinton’s (and the mass media) election denial of the previous election. He referred to Trump’s alleged incitement of the Jan. 6th riot, but never mentioned Obama’s war on police and Biden and other politicians’ tacit incitement of BLM violence in the name of “social justice.” He mentioned Trump cutting health care for low income families in the BBB, however he never mentioned Biden’s illegal Covid mandates that destroyed people’s lives, health and livelihoods. And on and on… This could have been a great book if it were written truly as lesson we (and today’s current politicians) could learn from Bobby Kennedy rather than a thinly veiled hit piece on Trump.
December 31, 2025
I picked up "Lessons from Bobby" hoping to learn more about Robert F. Kennedy—especially with the centennial of his birth in mind. I expected a reflective look at his life, his ideas, and the historical context that shaped him. Unfortunately, that isn’t what this book delivers.
Instead of offering a focused exploration of RFK, the main chapters take ten themes from his public life and repeatedly frame them in contrast to Donald Trump. Readers looking for a biography or even a historically grounded analysis of Kennedy’s legacy may find this approach distracting. It felt less like a study of RFK and more like a contemporary political argument built around him.
Ironically, the strongest part of the book is the appendix. There, the author steps aside and lets Bobby Kennedy speak for himself. Those quoted passages carry the clarity, conviction, and humanity I was hoping to find throughout the rest of the book.
If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of RFK, this may not be the best starting point. But if you’re interested in a modern political interpretation of his ideas, you may find more here than I did.
Instead of offering a focused exploration of RFK, the main chapters take ten themes from his public life and repeatedly frame them in contrast to Donald Trump. Readers looking for a biography or even a historically grounded analysis of Kennedy’s legacy may find this approach distracting. It felt less like a study of RFK and more like a contemporary political argument built around him.
Ironically, the strongest part of the book is the appendix. There, the author steps aside and lets Bobby Kennedy speak for himself. Those quoted passages carry the clarity, conviction, and humanity I was hoping to find throughout the rest of the book.
If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of RFK, this may not be the best starting point. But if you’re interested in a modern political interpretation of his ideas, you may find more here than I did.
January 21, 2026
Going into this book I considered myself a "surface level" history buff. I knew a lot about the space race, JFK, early United States history, and others. I knew the basics about Bobby Kennedy. JFK's younger brother who was shot. The recency of this book, and it's length made this a great entry point for learning more about Bobby Kennedy.
The author's constant reminders of current political events can feel heavy handed however that's the point of the book so I can't fault the book for that. I do appretiate the author's willingness to criticize Democrat leadership (although significantly less than they criticize Trump and the MAGA movement.)
My favorite thing about this book is it's inclusion of some of Bobby's most important speeches. That's not to say the main portion of the book is not interesting.
Overall this is a great gateway into learning more about Bobby Kennedy and the politics of the late 60's.
The author's constant reminders of current political events can feel heavy handed however that's the point of the book so I can't fault the book for that. I do appretiate the author's willingness to criticize Democrat leadership (although significantly less than they criticize Trump and the MAGA movement.)
My favorite thing about this book is it's inclusion of some of Bobby's most important speeches. That's not to say the main portion of the book is not interesting.
Overall this is a great gateway into learning more about Bobby Kennedy and the politics of the late 60's.
October 26, 2025
Grateful to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.
This book is a short reflection of some of the key themes that can be taken from Bobby Kennedy's life along with contrasts to our present political climate. Many of Kennedy's major speeches are included as appendices.
This book is a short reflection piece and so readers shouldn't expect to see new information about Kennedy - the incidents discussed in each of the lessons will be largely familiar to anyone with an interest in that era of US history. It is still worth reading, if only for the reminder of what genuine public servants used to look like. Matthews is clearly knowledgeable about RFK and his legacy.
This book is a short reflection of some of the key themes that can be taken from Bobby Kennedy's life along with contrasts to our present political climate. Many of Kennedy's major speeches are included as appendices.
This book is a short reflection piece and so readers shouldn't expect to see new information about Kennedy - the incidents discussed in each of the lessons will be largely familiar to anyone with an interest in that era of US history. It is still worth reading, if only for the reminder of what genuine public servants used to look like. Matthews is clearly knowledgeable about RFK and his legacy.
November 12, 2025
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” — Robert F. Kennedy
this is an incredible book by legend chris matthews, outlining ten lessons every american alive today can learn from bobby kennedy. as one of the united states’ most impactful heroes, bobby kennedy’s words and bravery are more important now than ever. may we all strive to learn from his eternal wisdom🕊️
this is an incredible book by legend chris matthews, outlining ten lessons every american alive today can learn from bobby kennedy. as one of the united states’ most impactful heroes, bobby kennedy’s words and bravery are more important now than ever. may we all strive to learn from his eternal wisdom🕊️
November 30, 2025
Special note that Chris was appearing locally so we went and the book was the price of admission. Absolutely nothing new here except the organization of the stories and the linkage to this horror we are currently living through. I had it very nearly read before he started talking (we were a bit early :)) and awash in Kennedy stories lately given his grandniece's recent diagnosis, and his entirely troubled nitwit son ruining our health on a major scale. Chris can be entertaining.
November 19, 2025
A quick read that is a great overview of RFK’s main morals and how they relate to society and politics today. The appendix includes his speeches which are the best part of a really good book. The book calls out both current/recent Republican and Democrat choices and contrasts them to RFK’s points. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
December 24, 2025
A hero of mine and this collection of Matthew’s’ commentary and RFK’s words is nothing short of inspiring. The handful of speeches by Bobby Kennedy are so poignant. The impassioned call for compassion and unity made me weep again. No politician has so much feeling for their fellow human being. I hope it stirs those who read to strive once again to be all we can be.
January 8, 2026
I love to read about the Kennedy Family, and this book had the potential to really be something special. However, Trump being mentioned every other page really took away from it. I realize as the author that that is his choice, but it really took away from focusing on Bobby and the causes and things that he dedicated his life to and that mattered to him.
November 14, 2025
Great recounting that brings you back to times of tragedy and hope. Not so much for the writing of the author, but for the words and courage of Bobby and what it meant at the time and its relevance for this time.
January 25, 2026
Grabbed my attention after finishing The Women. A quick read and some really touching excerpts. I really enjoyed the full speeches in the second appendix. However, I would agree with the majority of other reviews that there was too much focus on politics of today.
November 20, 2025
I listened to this twice. Chris Matthews has written an essential book about Bobby Kennedy, a leader, who wanted to bring the country back together. The kind of leader we need today more than ever.
November 23, 2025
Words we need to hear right now - what did Bobby do that we can learn from now. Much. Includes speeches by RFK at the end.
December 12, 2025
Too much Trump, though I enjoyed reading RFK's speeches in the appendix
December 31, 2025
Bobby Kennedy represents a different brand of liberalism that is so lacking today but much needed.
January 5, 2026
This book reminds you how great orators can make a difference in motivating the masses. RFK’s words and worries are still highly relevant.
January 19, 2026
It was a great trip down memory lane and a crystal clear reminder that the United States has come along way, but is nowhere approaching its potential.
January 26, 2026
I tried to listen to the audio. It was supposed to be about Bobby but in 20 min the author complained about President Trump at least twice so I was done listening to it & returned it.
January 26, 2026
Oh how I miss him! He is so relevant today as he was in ‘68.
January 30, 2026
Reflective of a past leader & comparing to today's leader and their actions. What's important the people or the person?
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