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Title: An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 by Robert Dallek ISBN: 0-316-17238-3 Publisher: Little Brown & Company Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (63 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A true masterpiece
Comment: Dallek has written a little over 700 pages of fascinating insight into the Kennedy presidency. It's important to note that Dallek has not written a "pro-Kennedy" book at all - he deals with JFK's affairs head on, as well as the incredible amount of medication that the president took not only to keep him alive, but to ameliorate his pain from back injuries, spastic colitis, Addison's Disease and other physical ailments.
Particularly interesting in this masterful tome is Dallek's detailed writing on Vietnam, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs Invasion and JFK's marital infidelities. Where Dallek breaks new ground is his examination of JFK's medical records, and how JFK's extensive use of medication affected his life and also his decision making during his presidency. Dallek concludes, based on his seemingly thorough research, that the president's medication did not influence any important decision making. But, this is an issue that bears discussion and scholarly debate. Dallek's conclusions carry significant weight because JFK's medical records until recently were not made available to authors and scholars.
This book will probably hold up as one of the best JFK biographies ever for many reasons - the best being its largely objective view based on the author's thorough research and interviews.
I highly recommend this book for anyone even remotely interested in learning about JFK the man and his presidency.
Rating: 5
Summary: An Admirable, Balanced Examination of JFK
Comment: Presidential historian Robert Dallek has taken on a challenging task in his new biography of John F. Kennedy, "An Unfinished Life." Unlike the majority of journalists, academics and others who have written about our 35th president, he comes neither to crucify or deify JFK. His goal is far more difficult: to present a balanced picture of Kennedy's short, event-filled life. This book manages to fulfill that goal admirably.
Dallek's narrative is straightforward, and the outlines are familiar; Kennedy's birth as a child of parents quickly moving into prosperity; his years of growing up, dominated by illness and loneliness; his coming to maturity in college; his World War II heroics; his election to Congress and steady pursuit of the top prize in politics, the presidency of the United States.
Dallek's evenhandedness is evident throughout his treatment of the major issues Kennedy confronted during his brief, event-filled presidency. He praises his restraint in handling the Cuban Missile Crisis, while also recognizing that it was his missteps in the months leading up to that confrontation that brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation in the first place.
He conveys the spirit of optimism and vitality JFK brought to the nation, and how the sudden loss of that on November 22nd 1963 was such a shattering event; but Dallek also refuses to minimize or condone the potentially disastrous consequences of Kennedy's sexual recklessness.
"An Unfinished Life" would deserve praise even if Dallek had only provided an evenhanded summary of all the JFK scholarship that's come before. But he has done more here, breaking new ground about the extent of JFK's health troubles. Not only did he suffer from the back problems and Addison's Disease that are now well known, he had a host of other troubles, including chronic colitis, and prostate troubles. The author's admiration for Kennedy's ability to overcome these physical challenges are clear, yet he also tries to come to an objective conclusion to the question of whether these difficulties ever impaired his ability to perform his job.
Dallek's prose doesn't soar the way Robert Caro's does in the retelling of Lyndon Johnson's life. But his narrative is clear and easy to follow. He seems to have a knack for selecting the right illustrative quote and weaving it into the text without interrupting the flow.
It's doubtless, as Dallek himself concedes, that this will not be the last word on John F. Kennedy. But if you're looking for a nuanced examination of his life and career without heavy pro- or anti-Kennedy bias, there's no better volume right now.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Very Thoughtful, Well-Written Bio of JFK
Comment: I have not read all the bios of John Kennedy but I have read many. I find this one very comprehensive and objective. It treats JFK honestly and it does not limit itself to those things that make him look good but it offers his shortcomings and his missteps as well.
Having said that, one senses that the author has a slight bias toward his subject. Not a worshipful feeling but a sense that Kennedy was right on more things than perhaps he was.
For example, JFK pulled a bit of a bluff in the Cuban Missile Crisis that fortunately worked. However, had it gone the other way, history (if there was anyone to write it) would have been quite different. So his finest hour was, I think, somewhat of a bit of luck more than a really smart move based on the military thesis that Sun Tzu stresses, i.e. do not fight a war unless you know you can win.
That aside, this is an excellent, well-written book and I highly recommend it.
Susanna K. Hutcheson
Creative Director
Powerwriting.com LLC
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Title: Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship by JON MEACHAM ISBN: 0375505008 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 14 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom by Conrad Black ISBN: 1586481843 Publisher: PublicAffairs Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: Benjamin Franklin : An American Life by Walter Isaacson ISBN: 0684807610 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
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Title: JFK: Remembering Jack by Christopher Loviny, Vincent Touze, Christophe Loviny ISBN: 2020596954 Publisher: Editions Du Seuil Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton ISBN: 0743222245 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 09 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
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