This was an excellent read!!

Having already read several biographies about the Kennedy family—Bobby Kennedy in particular—I really appreciated the opportunity to engage with his political beliefs directly through his own words.

The book traces the evolution of his views throughout the 1950s and 1960s, from the beginning of his public life after law school to his tenure as Attorney General in his brother’s administration, his time in the Senate, and ultimately his presidential campaign and tragic assassination.

Even though I was familiar with his life, this collection provided deeper insight into his involvement with causes such as migrant farm workers’ unions (including his work with César Chávez), his visit to South Africa during apartheid, and his commitment to the Bedford-Stuyvesant project. 

One of the most compelling aspects of Bobby Kennedy’s speeches is his ability to balance both logic and emotion in his responses to the injustices felt by minority groups and those living in poverty. He understood the power of moral outrage—not just as a personal reaction, but as a tool to inspire action in others. His speeches emphasise that while logic and policy are essential, meaningful change also requires deep empathy and a willingness to feel anger at injustice. This blend of reason and passion made him an extraordinary leader and a politician who truly connected with the people. 

I read a quote somewhere once about how the Kennedy brothers were so popular and their deaths so tragic because, in spite of the violence and turbulence of their times, they saw the citizens of America at their best and spoke to the people's better angels. After reading this book, I get it!

This collection of Nelson Mandela’s speeches from the late 1940s to the early 1960s offers a powerful insight into life for black South Africans under apartheid. It highlights the extreme measures the white minority government took to maintain control, from silencing political figures like Mandela and Chief Lutuli through "banning" orders to enforcing oppressive systems like Bantu Education, denying black South Africans voting rights, government representation, and union participation.

 While the lack of contextual information—such as longer footnotes or an introduction at the start of each speech providing historical background—sometimes made it difficult to fully grasp certain speeches, the collection was still incredibly worthwhile. It deepened my understanding of Mandela’s struggle and left me eager to read his memoir.

I really enjoyed the distinct writing styles Sally Rooney chose for each character, which was an effective way to distinguish them and was indicative of their characters. The stream-of-consciousness approach in Peter's chapters, reminiscent of the Joycean literary tradition, could have easily felt pretentious or irritating but ultimately worked well for his character. Likewise, the more structure approach worked for Ivan–since he's a chess prodigy and logical thinker. 

I appreciated the nuanced, complex relationship between the brothers, which felt raw and compelling. However, I found the female characters, particularly Naomi and Sylvia, disappointingly two-dimensional. Both had real potential but seemed underwritten, often overshadowed by Peter's angst.

While it's not the best book I've ever read, it's definitely my favourite from Sally Rooney. 

Well-researched and well-written, Jonathan Alter’s biography offers a balanced account of former President Jimmy Carter. Alter highlights Carter’s positive attributes—his hard work, determination, and innate decency—while also addressing his flaws. The book celebrates Carter’s many successes, such as his brilliant humanitarian efforts, the establishment of the Carter Center, and his dedication to peace and the plight of the Palestinian people in the Middle East. At the same time, it doesn’t shy away from moments where Carter fell short, like when he chose to sit out the civil rights movement during the 1960s, and goes on to explore how he sought to make amends for this later in life. 

As someone born long after Carter’s presidency, this book gave me valuable insight into his life and administration. It helped contextualise everything I’ve heard about him in recent weeks since his passing and provided a deeper understanding of his legacy. 

Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy; the original all american it-girl who died as she lived—girlie popping. 

With all due respect, I think Paula Byrne's did an amazing job charting the story of Kick's life from her upbringing as golden girl of the Kennedy clan; beloved by her father Joe and brother Jack, to dazzling debutante, member of the British aristocracy and ultimately tragic antiheroine. 

Paula Byrne's writing has such warmth and she really brought Kick's personality to life–showcasing why she was so charming to those around her. Like so many others in her family, Kick passed away too young and one can only wonder what she would have made of herself had she lived a longer life. 

Always on the sidelines supporting her three infamous brothers throughout their political careers, this book tells Eunice Kennedy's story, from her childhood at Cape Cod to her passionate advocacy and lobbying for the rights of the intellectually disabled and her establishment of the Special Olympics. 

Eileen Macnamara has touched on a lot here–from Eunice's early career working with delinquent youth and female prisoners, her chronic illnesses, her work on her brothers' various political campaigns, her family life and her later years and dealings with recent presidents such as Bush, Clinton and Obama. 

The story also gets a personal touch with the inclusion of quotes from interviews with Eunice's five children, Mark, Anthony, Timothy, Bobby and Maria Shriver, as well as her sister in law Ethel Kennedy. 

Included at the end of my review is a quote from Eunice herself from a speech at the JFK library;