Early 20th-century America is seen through the eyes of immigrants in Adjacent to History, a book about author John Rilli’s family who came from Europe and settled in New York, Connecticut, and Philadelphia. Rilli’s ancestors left Sicily, Germanic Europe, and Ireland to build new lives in America. Rilli weaves his family’s immigrant story with larger historical events, creating a rich tapestry of resilience, identity, and cultural preservation. Rilli earned a bachelor’s degree (1998) and an M.B.A. (2009) from Boston College.