Scan barcode
x0pherl's review against another edition
5.0
Dallek takes an unapologetic look at the good and bad of Kennedy's life. I found the book thoroughly engaging, entertaining, and informative.
Going into the book, I was mostly familiar with the myth of Kennedy, influenced heavily by my mother's admiration for him. I didn't actually know very much about his life or presidency: I could have named the Bay of Pigs as associated with him, as well as the Cuban missile crisis. But I couldn't have told you anything substantial about those events. I knew nothing about his personal life or his service in WWII or House and Senate.
My impression having finished the book is that Kennedy was a decidedly mediocre president. The credit he deserves for successfully navigating the Cuban missile crisis has to be considered in the context of his foolish decision to back an invasion of another country. His reluctant and lackluster support of the civil rights movement certainly doesn't hold up as a "Profile in Courage" by today's lights.
He was an eloquent speaker, and the country was charmed with having a young family in the White House. It's hard to say how his presidency would have been viewed by history if he hadn't been assassinated. But after reading this book, I can't say I think he would be considered to be one of the great presidents if he had completed his term.
Going into the book, I was mostly familiar with the myth of Kennedy, influenced heavily by my mother's admiration for him. I didn't actually know very much about his life or presidency: I could have named the Bay of Pigs as associated with him, as well as the Cuban missile crisis. But I couldn't have told you anything substantial about those events. I knew nothing about his personal life or his service in WWII or House and Senate.
My impression having finished the book is that Kennedy was a decidedly mediocre president. The credit he deserves for successfully navigating the Cuban missile crisis has to be considered in the context of his foolish decision to back an invasion of another country. His reluctant and lackluster support of the civil rights movement certainly doesn't hold up as a "Profile in Courage" by today's lights.
He was an eloquent speaker, and the country was charmed with having a young family in the White House. It's hard to say how his presidency would have been viewed by history if he hadn't been assassinated. But after reading this book, I can't say I think he would be considered to be one of the great presidents if he had completed his term.
pitythechild's review against another edition
5.0
genuinely a fantastic book.. i liked it a lot. i only wish that there was more about his personal life while he was in the white house, ie more details about his affairs, especially with mary pinchot meyer.. but overall i REALLY enjoyed this and i would recommend it.
cherese's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This was a well written, well researched biography on John F Kennedy. I enjoyed getting to know him better. And I learned quite a bit of interesting things about our former president!
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like a know a lot about JFK, which as the author points out in the last chapter, is because of the amount of books, movies and stories about JFK. There is always things to learn and here it is not the womanizing or the loyalty to his brother, rather it is the insecurities he had at times and the manner in which he made his decisions. It is a really thoughtful book.
zarco_j's review against another edition
4.0
A compelling biography that covers the life and death of John F. Kennedy. Well researched and beautifully written this deserves a place on any history lovers shelf.
apryls's review against another edition
2.0
I appreciated the epilogue nicely summing things up, and the first 200 and last 200 pages were interesting (all the enemas...), but my goodness was the rest boring. Even the Bay of Pigs was boring, and that should have been fascinating.
To be fair, this was not a good choice for a relaxing cruise vacation, but I had a lot of time on my hands so figured it was at least good timing.
To be fair, this was not a good choice for a relaxing cruise vacation, but I had a lot of time on my hands so figured it was at least good timing.
bhgold1711's review against another edition
4.25
A good biography that grapples with JFK's flaws and failures, as well as the dark and tawdry (although it does overlook some, like the controversy over the 1960 election).
jayfr's review
4.0
A compelling biography that covers the life and death of John F. Kennedy. Well researched and beautifully written this deserves a place on any history lovers shelf.