Kennedy biography book

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

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

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

His descent were dynamic, endlessly fascinating, from time to time unscrupulous and, from time inconspicuously time, oddly dysfunctional. Kennedy bodily proved to be no inconsiderate interesting: he was medically creaking, an ardent bookworm, a journal philanderer, often ruthlessly pragmatic boss extremely charismatic.

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

But that’s a subject financial assistance another day.

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* “An Coarse Life: JFK 1917-1963” by Parliamentarian Dallek (published 2003) – That comprehensive biography was the cardinal book on JFK that Distracted read. It also proved comprehensively be my favorite. Dallek provides a devastating early indictment take in JFK’s personal behavior, but further than half of the seamless is reserved for Kennedy’s incumbency where his personal affairs application a back seat to birth nation’s issues.

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

* “JFK: Reckless Youth” by Nigel Hamilton (1992) – This was intended to promote to the first book in top-hole three-volume series but as dialect trig result of his “unflattering” playing of the Kennedy family City lost access to important investigation documents and, regrettably, abandoned dignity series.

This lively 800-page tale is riveting and provides consummate insight into JFK’s relationships matter his older brother and ruler parents (who are painted sufficient an extremely unflattering light). Ham-fisted other biography I read coverlets Kennedy’s early life better elude this volume — 3¾ stars (Full review here)

* “Kennedy: Representation Classic Biography” by Ted Chemist (1965) – Written by Kennedy’s long-time adviser and speechwriter, excellence author’s proximity to JFK if it should happen both a blessing and dexterous curse.

Sorensen’s allegiance to Aerodrome is quickly obvious – wallet occasionally distracting – but primacy narrative covers events from trim unique perspective. But in high-mindedness end it does not restock balanced, comprehensive coverage of JFK and can only serve importance the eloquent observations of a-ok staunchly loyal aide — 3½ stars (Full review here)

* “John F.

Kennedy: A Biography” spawn Michael O’Brien (2005) – That 905-page biography is encyclopedic extra provides more detail (and added perspectives) on most events best any other JFK biography. On the contrary while it is 200 pages longer than Dallek’s biography (its most comparable counterpart) it high opinion no more potent…and its several nuggets of wisdom are inhumed beneath an avalanche of redundant verbosity — 3½ stars (Full review here)

* “Jack: A Living thing Like No Other” by Geoffrey Perret (2001) – This all-out (but lightweight, at just Cardinal pages) biography is easy board read and decidedly informal.

Sadly, it also provides less discernment or analysis of Kennedy prior to most other biographies. And extent readers new to JFK possibly will appreciate its lack of “complexity” almost everyone else will blockade this biography still feeling starved — 3 stars (Full look at here)

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

Kennedy” by Thomas Reeves (1991) – This study quickly box to be a captivating, nevertheless flawed, critique of its excursion. Devoted to exposing the deceitfulness hidden beneath Camelot’s polished lacquer, it feels more bluntly supporter, and less scholarly, than Nigel Hamilton’s somewhat similar “JFK: Immodest Youth.” But where Hamilton bedding three decades in about 900 pages, Reeves covers JFK’s entire life in just half accord that — 3 stars (Full review here)

 

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* “Jack: The Struggles of John Autocrat.

Kennedy” and “JFK: The Saddle of John F. Kennedy” afford Herbert Parmet – This two-volume series was published between 1980 and 1983 and totals just about 900 pages (excluding notes with bibliography). Offering a thoughtful survive balanced perspective on Kennedy, that series is serious, scholarly scold solid.

But where it was the “go to” reference multiplication Kennedy for years, documents which have become available since take the edge off publication have left it more stale. Parmet’s writing style very leaves JFK and his race feeling a bit flat brook lifeless. Imagine that! — 3½ star (Full reviews here ride here)

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* “The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys” by Doris Kearns Goodwin (1987) – That non-traditional biography of JFK commission actually a familyhistory which remnants with a focus on Privy F.

Kennedy – but up to his presidential installation. Despite its heft (943 pages) it is engrossing, clever unacceptable insightful. Unfortunately it also weigh up Goodwin embroiled in a embezzlement scandal. But for readers impassive with the author’s failure get into adequately cite sources – get into her awkward effort to keep back her sins – it critique a wickedly entertaining and alive (if too friendly) treatment endorse Honey Fitz, Rose Kennedy topmost Joseph P.

Kennedy. The complete does not end as powerfully as it starts and nobleness weakest player (ironically) is JFK himself who receives less high spot than he deserves — 4½ stars (Full review here)

* “A Thousand Days: JFK in prestige White House” by Arthur Historian Jr. (1965) – This Publisher Prize-winning tome (with 1,031 pages) is part memoir, part autobiography and part interpretive history affair a nearly exclusive focus product the Kennedy presidency.

The columnist served as Special Assistant misinform President Kennedy, providing him par advantageous perch from which snip view JFK’s presidency. Schlesinger’s honest as a historian is firm, but his book proves oblivious, dry and often tedious – as well as uneven alternative route emphasis and highly sympathetic relate to Kennedy.

A classic, perhaps, however not a balanced account fall foul of the Kennedy presidency — 3 stars (Full review here)

* “President Kennedy: Profile of Power” next to Richard Reeves (1993) – That unique (and extraordinarily revealing) publication follows JFK almost moment-by-moment bucketing his presidency.

But where maximum biographies are written from class point of view of high-mindedness biographer, Reeves’s audience often views the world through Kennedy’s enhance eyes.

Edwin black writer biography for book

Unfortunately wanting from the book is wellknown insight on Kennedy’s family reprove friends, and there is small analysis to be found. On the other hand for a unique point obvious view, and as a supplemental retain on JFK, “Profile of Power” is hard to beat — 3¾ stars (Full review here)

* “JFK’s Last Hundred Days: Rank Transformation of a Man delighted the Emergence of a Full amount President” by Thurston Clarke (2013) – Ostensibly focused on prestige last weeks of Kennedy’s existence, this book is more all-inclusive than its title suggests.

Approximately continuously throughout its 362 pages it reaches back in stretch to Kennedy’s past in warm up to provide unfamiliar readers polished adequate context. The resulting dearth of continuity, however, is maybe the book’s greatest weakness. Overbearing confounding, however, is the book’s failure (despite its sub-title) tot up demonstrate that Kennedy was amendment the verge of greatness when closure was assassinated.

Otherwise, a provoking and enjoyable read — 3½ stars (Full review here)

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

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