Questions About The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League

by Jeff Hobbs (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (8)

Do you think that, if marijuana had already been legalized in New Jersey as it now is in Washington and Colorado, Rob would have taken a more above-board path? Or do you think he would have dealt in something else, like the guns he discussed with Ina, or perhaps harder drugs?

Lynn This entire book is about choices - bad choices. Not every young black male who goes to an Ivy League school makes choices that Rob makes. Hypothetica…moreThis entire book is about choices - bad choices. Not every young black male who goes to an Ivy League school makes choices that Rob makes. Hypothetical questions do not do this story justice. The crux of the matter is Rob's inner drive. He is tireless in his pursuit of his vision of success. The "big deal" that he came up with had it's inherent dangers. He draws up this letter to send to Johnson & Johnson, puts it on hold, just to split a half a million dollars with his friends? His take was $76,000.00. That is chump change. In many ways Rob was penny wise and pound foolish. All that Ivy League education he juggled alongside being just another drug dealer. And his mother sensed it all the time. She emerges as the hero in all this. What that woman endured is tragic. If marijuana was legal - if his father wasn't incarcerated - if he was raised in Upper Montclair - if, if, if. Why bother asking the question?

Where were the dorm police in all this? Who was there to help Rob see the error in his thinking? Who was giving career advice at Yale? The truth be known, Rob was caught in the middle. Students from rich families who have fathers with worthwhile connections do not have the worries that Rob carried everyday of his short lived life. Rob didn't have the advantage of golf course connections that other Yale student fathers were making so upon graduation their sons have a job waiting for them. This story, in many ways, reminds me of the NFL. Young star athletes are given huge sign-on bonuses, but nobody is there to tell them how to invest it. Was there one Yale professor willing to take Rob under his wing?

The people who should be reading this book are all of Rob's Yale professors. I'm from East Orange. I chose to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Some of my friends did not. Many are dead. The legalization of marijuana is not the answer to the inner city's woes.(less)

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Do you think there was any point in Rob's life where he could have turned himself around? While I was largely sympathetic to him throughout the entire novel, at some point, I wondered if he would ever pick himself up and move forward in his life in a meaningful way instead of just settling into the mire and poverty of his drug dealing? Do you see a point where that was possible?

Molly I think yes and no. I think there were plenty of opportunities for him to make choices that would have taken him down a different path. A different sc…moreI think yes and no. I think there were plenty of opportunities for him to make choices that would have taken him down a different path. A different school than Yale, going on to graduate school immediately after or seeking a job in his field, staying in Rio or any of the other places he loved in his travels. But the part of me that says "no" argues that he couldn't leave Jackie alone in East Orange to care for her aging and ailing parents, and couldn't abandon Skeet while there was still the slightest chance of his getting out of prison.

His parents did so much to help him rise above the disadvantages that were his birthright, but, in doing so, I feel they anchored him to Newark and to themselves. (less)

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The one thing that bothered me was how did Yale and Charles Crawley just let Rob slip away after graduating? He was in a difficult major with a limited number of students. Why weren't potential employers lined up to hire this straight A student?

Elizabeth I'll need to review the timeline, but didn't Rob himself want time to travel before taking the first step in his professional career? I think part of …moreI'll need to review the timeline, but didn't Rob himself want time to travel before taking the first step in his professional career? I think part of Rob's problem is that he was reluctant to commit to a particular career path, just as he was reluctant to commit to any one woman. He told one of his friends that he envied the ability to know what one wanted to do. Rob had so many avenues open to him that it almost seems he shut them down to avoid the fear of choosing the wrong path. I've seen this happen to talented people even when they have the support system and guidance that Rob lacked.(less)

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Do you think Rob's life had any signifigance? I'm just curious to read what other readers think. Ithink that many people do things they shouldn't do, even those who "make it" in more socially acceptable ways in the business world. I know people who have really good jobs but are mean, selfish, greedy and racist. I didn't know Rob personally, but I felt that he cared about people the best he could.

Christine You answered your own question: "I felt that he cared about people the best he could." That was what made his life significant.…moreYou answered your own question: "I felt that he cared about people the best he could." That was what made his life significant.(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Elizabeth In talking with friends about the book recently, I made this observation as well. Rob had a certain plan in mind that this money was sufficient to fun…moreIn talking with friends about the book recently, I made this observation as well. Rob had a certain plan in mind that this money was sufficient to fund. Losing the bulk of it to Carl was devastating for him. I don't understand why he didn't set up a bank account along the way to safeguard at least some of this money. He didn't have to worry about qualifying for financial aid, and the sums were not great enough to arouse money-laundering suspicions. Rob trusted a family friend too much and paid a terrible price. I need to reread this section of the book, but it did seem to be a major setback for him.(less)

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Unanswered Questions (3)

What were the certain types of books that Robert Peace read or liked? Do you know where Victor and his family are in NJ or no? What was it like to have a friend that was a drug dealer? Was it life threatening or was it cool to experience this side of Robert?

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Can white privileged write about poor blacks? Most of the scathing reviews here focus on the colors of the writer and protagonists. I think that Hobbs makes it clear throughout the book. Yes, he made money but just as easily could have wasted three years of his life on a failed attempt. Why focus on the color of the writer?

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