The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League
by Jeff Hobbs
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League by Jeff Hobbs holds a highly rated rating of 4.13 out of 5, based on 14.5K reader ratings. First published in 2014. The book spans 406 pages.
About The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League
What does the untimely death of one man mean?Robert Peace was born outside Newark in a ghetto known as "Illtown." His unwed mother worked long hours in a kitchen. His charismatic father was later convicted of a double murder. Peace's intellectual brilliance and hard-won determination earned him a full scholarship to Yale University. At college, while majoring in molecular biophysics and biochemistry, he straddled the world of academia and the world of the street, never revealing his full self in either place. Upon graduation from Yale, he went home to teach at the Catholic high school he'd attended, slid into the drug trade, and was brutally murdered at age thirty.That's the short version of Robert Peace's life. The long version, the complete version, is this remarkable tour de force by Jeff Hobbs, a talented young novelist who was Peace's college roommate. Hobbs attended Peace's funeral, reached out to his friends from both Yale and Newark, and ultimately decided to write this harrowing and beautiful account of his life.What does the haunting, untimely death of one man mean? Robert Peace's life doesn't reduce to easy sociological constructions. Through Hobbs's relentless research and remarkable writing, we learn the cost of living between the world Peace was born into and the one his potential allowed him to enter. We see him work, love, fail, succeed, give to others, care for his mother, travel, and dream. We witness the decisions he made for himself and the ones that life forced upon him. But most importantly, we come to understand the sheer complexity of his existence and are irrevocably changed by the fascinating, devastating, and unforgettable life of Robert Peace.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Jeff Hobbs |
| Published | 2014 |
| Pages | 406 |
| Kindle Price | $12.99 |
| Genres | Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, History, Mystery & Thriller |
| Average Rating | 4.13 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 14,451 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League?
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League is categorized as Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, History. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League worth reading?
Based on 14.5K reader ratings, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League has an average score of 4.13 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League?
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League has 406 pages.
Who wrote The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League?
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League was written by Jeff Hobbs. It was first published in 2014.
What is the ISBN for The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League?
The ISBN-13 for The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League is 9781476731900.0.
How much does The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League cost on Kindle?
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League is available on Kindle for $12.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
