From the personal transformation of an American political icon to the hidden history of Rome and the simple pleasures of sharing a meal, three new books invite readers to look beyond the familiar and discover deeper connections to history, humanity and everyday life. Whether exploring the evolution of Robert F. Kennedy, uncovering 2,000 years of stories on a single Roman street or finding meaning in the art of cooking, these titles offer fresh perspectives and plenty to think about. Together, they explore how our experiences, surroundings and relationships shape who we are and how we connect with the world around us.
New Book Explores the Transformation of Robert F. Kennedy Into a Champion for Justice
Robert F. Kennedy is remembered as a presidential candidate, attorney general and one of America’s most influential political figures. But what transformed the privileged son of a powerful political family into a passionate advocate for the poor and oppressed? Author B.J. Hollars explores that evolution in Becoming Bobby Kennedy: The Transformative Life of an American Icon, published by Potomac Books.
The book examines the experiences that reshaped Kennedy’s outlook during the final six years of his life. While the 1963 assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, marked a turning point, Hollars shows how Bobby’s own encounters with poverty, suffering and injustice helped develop his sense of compassion and moral responsibility.
Through journeys that took him from apartheid-era South Africa and Chilean coal mines to impoverished communities in Mississippi, eastern Kentucky and South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Kennedy sought to understand the struggles of people often overlooked by society.
Drawing on rare interviews and archival research, Hollars offers an intimate, character-driven account of Kennedy’s personal transformation. The book also revisits his 1968 presidential campaign, which ended with his assassination but cemented his legacy as a symbol of peace, empathy and social justice.
Becoming Bobby Kennedy offers readers a closer look at the man behind the political icon and explores why his vision for America continues to resonate.
New Book Uncovers 2,000 Years of Rome’s Hidden History, One City Block at a Time
Rome is known for its ancient landmarks, historic architecture and centuries of cultural influence. But some of the city’s most fascinating stories are tucked away in places tourists often overlook. In On the Street of the Hidden Shops: One City Block, Two Thousand Years, and a Walk Through the Layered Lives of Rome, author Elizabeth Rodini takes readers on a journey through one historic street to uncover the lives, legends and events that shaped the city.
The book explores Via delle Botteghe Oscure, a street in the heart of Rome whose name refers to mysterious shops believed to have existed beneath it. Over 2,000 years, the same city block has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, political upheaval, religious life and everyday neighborhood traditions.
Its history dates to 13 BCE, when Roman general Lucius Cornelius Balbus built a monumental theater complex on the site. Over time, the area transformed, with museums, convents, shops and homes layered over ancient ruins.
Rodini brings this history to life through stories of the people who occupied the neighborhood, including artisans, poets, shopkeepers, pilgrims, a Jewish family freed from the nearby Ghetto and archaeologists working to uncover the area’s forgotten past.
Readers will also encounter stories involving a gifted baker, a medieval donkey, a Renaissance ghost and a coffee bar that became a gathering place for communists. The block’s history includes a Fascist deportation and a political assassination, revealing how larger historical events touched the lives of ordinary Romans.
Drawing on archives, artifacts, rumors and legends, Rodini offers a different way to experience Rome. Rather than focusing on its most famous monuments, On the Street of the Hidden Shops shows how an ordinary city block can hold centuries of extraordinary stories.
The book invites readers to look beyond the familiar tourist attractions and discover the many layers of history hidden in the streets of Rome.
New Book Explores How Cooking, Sharing Food Can Lead to a More Meaningful Life
Food is about more than satisfying hunger. It brings people together, strengthens relationships and creates meaningful connections. In To Taste: On Cooking and the Good Life, philosopher and sous-chef Scott Samuelson explores how preparing and sharing meals can help us live richer, more connected lives.
Blending personal stories with insights from some of the world’s greatest thinkers, Samuelson makes the case that everyday work, especially cooking, should bring people closer together. He examines how preparing a good meal encourages hospitality, respect for nature, appreciation of tradition, celebration and the development of practical skills.
Samuelson also finds deeper meaning in the simple act of seasoning a dish “to taste,” suggesting that cooking reflects the mysteries and pleasures of being human.
Whether readers are experienced cooks or beginners, To Taste offers a thoughtful look at how food, fellowship and the work of making a meal can contribute to the good life.