I really enjoyed this single volume biography of JFK. Over the years myths have grown up around the man, family and legacy and it was great to have an overview of his contribution to global politics. I was a little surprised that there was light touch in some areas, like the Bay of Pigs, which I expected a filler analysis of and there was a great emphasis on his physical debilities. There is no evidence that any of the physical weaknesses or sexual predilections affected his judgement or events although covered at length. There is no balancing scrutiny of how his family life impacted on him really at all.

I have always been mystified by Vietnam and the US actions and this was a great introduction. Perhaps next summer I shall move on to read about that and more about the civil rights movement. The condo I'm in has a biography of Bobby Kennedy but I'm out of time to read it, unfortunately.

I am sick and tired of kennedy idolatry!!!
As recently released tapes from the Whitehouse shows , the first ever tape from oval office shows kennedy ordering the encouragement of a military coup by the military in Brazil, my country, ehich happened and it cost 25 thousand dead people, thank you mr Kennedy!
Besides that the man did nothing besides catering to the american taste of looking good. For heavens sake, if the famous stand iff with Kruschev is known to have been a negotiation that took the saturn rockets out of turkey and allowed mr kennedy to save face. The man was nothing but a ken with a barbie besides him ( apologies to mrs kennedy, she actually had mire brains than the whole kennedy staff). As it is I do remember, as a very young kid when he died, later as I actually learned history, that was a date to comemorate

This book was even better the second time around. I admit, I read it this time for a class but it is one of the best biographies of Kennedy, in my opinion.

Very, very complete and well-documented. Buys into the Warren Report.