Lea Ann asked Jeff Hobbs:

Jeff, thanks for writing such a exquisite portrait of your friend Rob Peace. I was struck by how fully you portrayed his life and captured the knowable and unknowable qualities of the human experience. I was wondering if you believe the lack of social capital existing in Rob's background contributed to the malaise of his mid-20s and if Yale could have done a better job for those graduating without such a network?

Jeff Hobbs Thanks very much for reading and for reaching out. I'm sorry for the delay, I really am not on computer sites often at all, but I'm trying to be more so as I have a new book coming out in August. Your question is a hard one. There was a lack of adult male figures in his life, but also a constellation of fiercely loving friends, family members, and educators--above all his mother, of course. And Yale has shortcomings but also makes a lot of effort to help with transitions into and away from its campus. Then there are individual traits, and marijuana, and difficult loyalties to places and people, etc. This would make for a long discussion--sorry I can't really fully answer here. Sincerely, Jeff

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