Thank you, Potomac Books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mr. Book just finished Becoming Bobby Kennedy: The Transformative Life of an American Icon, by B. J. Hollars.

B. J. Hollars takes a different approach to telling the story of Robert F. Kennedy in this excellent book. Rather than writing a traditional biography that chronicles Kennedy’s life from beginning to end, Hollars focuses on selected events and experiences that helped shape the man he became. The result is a revealing portrait of Kennedy’s personality, character and personal evolution.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its examination of how Kennedy changed over time. Born into a family of extraordinary wealth and privilege, Kennedy gradually developed a greater understanding of the lives and struggles of people whose experiences were vastly different from his own. His encounters with people living in poverty had a particularly profound impact on him. His transformation was largely a cumulative process, as these experiences challenged his assumptions, broadened his perspective and helped shape his political outlook.

Hollars does an excellent job of illustrating that evolution through individual episodes rather than simply describing it. The book also provides some entertaining glimpses into Kennedy’s personal life, including the antics of his dog, Brumus. After urinating on two women at a party, Brumus was placed under house arrest. He escaped and promptly returned to urinate on the same two women again. The dog’s behavior at the Justice Department also reportedly exasperated FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who had his deputies investigate whether federal law could prohibit Brumus from entering government buildings.

What makes Becoming Bobby Kennedy particularly effective is that it provides a deeper understanding of someone who may already be familiar to readers. Hollars doesn’t merely recount what Kennedy did. He explores the experiences that influenced his thinking and helped make him the person he became.

This is a very good book that succeeds in bringing Bobby Kennedy to life while providing valuable insights into his character and transformation.

Mr. Book gave this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In Mr. Book’s personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

Mr. Book finished reading this on November 5, 2026.

This review was posted at Goodreads, NetGalley and Mr. Book’s Book Reviews.