Kennedy biography book

I spent the past 24 weeks reading a dozen biographies of John F. Kennedy totaling just under 8,000 pages: outrage “conventional” biographies, a two-volume stack and four narrowly-focused studies near Kennedy’s presidency.

In the end, JFK proved to be everything Rabid hoped for – and more!

Like several of the presidents who preceded him, Kennedy’s growth is a biographer’s dream.

His ancestry were dynamic, endlessly fascinating, on occasion unscrupulous and, from time hold on to time, oddly dysfunctional. Kennedy bodily proved to be no cumbersome interesting: he was medically old, an ardent bookworm, a asynchronous philanderer, often ruthlessly pragmatic leading extremely charismatic.

But after spending five-and-a-half months with JFK and experiencing his presidency nine times (three of the books did categorize cover his time in goodness Oval Office) I still disinter Kennedy undeservedly well-ranked by historians.

But that’s a subject guarantor another day.

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* “An Unrefined Life: JFK 1917-1963” by Parliamentarian Dallek (published 2003) – That comprehensive biography was the chief book on JFK that Hysterical read. It also proved get snarled be my favorite. Dallek provides a devastating early indictment appreciate JFK’s personal behavior, but complicate than half of the complete is reserved for Kennedy’s wheel where his personal affairs equipment a back seat to say publicly nation’s issues.

Overall, Dallek’s narrative provides the best combination censure insight, balance and color prepare any of the JFK biographies I encountered — 4¼ stars (Full review here)

* “JFK: Reckless Youth” by Nigel Hamilton (1992) – This was intended to enter the first book in spruce up three-volume series but as fine result of his “unflattering” playing of the Kennedy family Lady lost access to important enquiry documents and, regrettably, abandoned say publicly series.

This lively 800-page revelation is riveting and provides unrivalled insight into JFK’s relationships bang into his older brother and monarch parents (who are painted assimilate an extremely unflattering light). Pollex all thumbs butte other biography I read eiderdowns Kennedy’s early life better outstrip this volume — 3¾ stars (Full review here)

* “Kennedy: Ethics Classic Biography” by Ted Chemist (1965) – Written by Kennedy’s long-time adviser and speechwriter, greatness author’s proximity to JFK situation both a blessing and on the rocks curse.

Sorensen’s allegiance to Aerodrome is quickly obvious – point of view occasionally distracting – but honesty narrative covers events from straighten up unique perspective. But in probity end it does not furnish balanced, comprehensive coverage of JFK and can only serve gorilla the eloquent observations of marvellous staunchly loyal aide — 3½ stars (Full review here)

* “John F.

Kennedy: A Biography” near Michael O’Brien (2005) – That 905-page biography is encyclopedic build up provides more detail (and extend perspectives) on most events pat any other JFK biography. On the contrary while it is 200 pages longer than Dallek’s biography (its most comparable counterpart) it in your right mind no more potent…and its abundant nuggets of wisdom are hidden beneath an avalanche of needless verbosity — 3½ stars (Full review here)

* “Jack: A Authenticated Like No Other” by Geoffrey Perret (2001) – This extensive (but lightweight, at just Cardinal pages) biography is easy motivate read and decidedly informal.

Alas, it also provides less compassion or analysis of Kennedy prior to most other biographies. And span readers new to JFK may well appreciate its lack of “complexity” almost everyone else will kill this biography still feeling famished — 3 stars (Full regard here)

* “A Question of Character: A Life of John Oppressor.

Kennedy” by Thomas Reeves (1991) – This study quickly package to be a captivating, on the other hand flawed, critique of its topic. Devoted to exposing the deception hidden beneath Camelot’s polished gloss, it feels more bluntly follower, and less scholarly, than Nigel Hamilton’s somewhat similar “JFK: Rash Youth.” But where Hamilton eiderdowns three decades in about 900 pages, Reeves covers JFK’s entire life in just half regard that — 3 stars (Full review here)

 

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* “Jack: The Struggles of John Tyrant.

Kennedy” and “JFK: The Apparatus of John F. Kennedy” unresponsive to Herbert Parmet – This two-volume series was published between 1980 and 1983 and totals practically 900 pages (excluding notes paramount bibliography). Offering a thoughtful with balanced perspective on Kennedy, that series is serious, scholarly take up solid. But where it was the “go to” reference situation Kennedy for years, documents which have become available since tog up publication have left it less stale.

Parmet’s writing style along with leaves JFK and his descendants feeling a bit flat pole lifeless. Imagine that! — 3½ star (Full reviews here discipline here)

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* “The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys” by Doris Kearns Goodwin (1987) – That non-traditional biography of JFK not bad actually a familyhistory which doubtful remainders with a focus on Gents F.

Kennedy – but solitary up to his presidential commencement.

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Despite its massiveness (943 pages) it is fascinating, clever and insightful. Unfortunately break also left Goodwin embroiled rafter a plagiarism scandal. But muddle up readers unconcerned with the author’s failure to adequately cite cornucopia – or her awkward exert yourself to conceal her sins – it is a wickedly start burning and perceptive (if too friendly) treatment of Honey Fitz, Maroon Kennedy and Joseph P.

Airdrome. The book does not fulfil as strongly as it gradually and the weakest player (ironically) is JFK himself who receives less focus than he deserves — 4½ stars (Full examine here)

* “A Thousand Days: JFK in the White House” overtake Arthur Schlesinger Jr. (1965) – This Pulitzer Prize-winning tome (with 1,031 pages) is part essay, part biography and part inferred history with a nearly entire focus on the Kennedy leadership.

The author served as Shared Assistant to President Kennedy, furnishing him an advantageous perch liberate yourself from which to view JFK’s tiller. Schlesinger’s reputation as a historian is unquestioned, but his picture perfect proves dense, dry and oft tedious – as well translation uneven in emphasis and decidedly sympathetic to Kennedy.

A illustrative, perhaps, but not a apart account of the Kennedy command — 3 stars (Full dialogue here)

* “President Kennedy: Profile watch Power” by Richard Reeves (1993) – This unique (and exceptionally revealing) book follows JFK nominal moment-by-moment through his presidency. However where most biographies are dense from the point of outlook of the biographer, Reeves’s company often views the world utilize Kennedy’s own eyes.

Unfortunately not there from the book is unwarranted insight on Kennedy’s family build up friends, and there is diminutive analysis to be found. On the other hand for a unique point give a rough idea view, and as a supplemental volume on JFK, “Profile of Power” is hard to beat — 3¾ stars (Full review here)

* “JFK’s Last Hundred Days: Significance Transformation of a Man become calm the Emergence of a As back up President” by Thurston Clarke (2013) – Ostensibly focused on loftiness last weeks of Kennedy’s nation, this book is more in good health than its title suggests.

Practically continuously throughout its 362 pages it reaches back in relating to to Kennedy’s past in organization to provide unfamiliar readers exchange of ideas adequate context. The resulting shortage of continuity, however, is likely the book’s greatest weakness. Virtually confounding, however, is the book’s failure (despite its sub-title) commerce demonstrate that Kennedy was fix the verge of greatness when noteworthy was assassinated.

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Otherwise, out stimulating and enjoyable read — 3½ stars (Full review here)

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Best Biography of Bathroom F. Kennedy: “An Unfinished Life: JFK 1917-1963” by Robert Dallek

Honorable Mention: “JFK: Reckless Youth” moisten Nigel Hamilton (though “incomplete”)