An entertaining read, especially if you like a mix of history and biography. The author kind of glosses over some details or issues surrounding JFK and the book's conclusion is a little truncated, but it is a good read.

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about the Kennedys not just JFK. I learned so much about Jack that I had never suspected. The Cuban issues of his presidency were amazing! I never knew how involved the US military was in this conflict. Also the why of our involvement in Vietnam was very interesting.

It fascinates me that both Jack Kennedy and Jackie still fascinate me. And I flip flop from thinking Jack was bad and good. The more I read about all our historical figures….the more I realize I can’t judge any of them. But back to the Kennedy time….I suppose the reason is the he was the first president I remember. This was an excellent historical account.

(⭐⭐)
Il mio professore di Storia Contemporanea era solito ripetere, con malcelato disprezzo nella voce, che John Fitzgerald Kennedy fosse strato il presidente americano più sopravvalutato, "perché era belloccio ed è morto giovane".
E confesso che parte della mia ammirazione per JFK si fondava esattamente su questi due superficiali motivi, per cui,, sebbene il libro in sé non mi abbia entusiasmata, è servito quantomeno ad un rapido ripasso della storia americana del tempo.
Il difetto principale di questa biografia è il fatto di concentrarsi per lo più sulle circostanze storiche nelle quali Kennedy era inserito, dilungandosi in particolare economici e burocratici che possono fare la felicità del lettore già esperto, ma finiscono per allontanare ed annoiare chi come me desiderava più avvicinarsi alla psicologia del personaggio, più che alla sua agiografia.

A well-researched "new" biography (including information about JFKs multiple physical issues and his larger-than-life sex drive) that gives much more detail about the man himself instead of just his accomplishments. By utilizing his personal papers, diaries and letters to friends and family, a truer portrait of JFK is painted than those written in the 1960s or 1970s. The dark underbelly of his father is mentioned time and time again, but does not take over the book like it took over Jack's career. A fascinating read that kept me from putting it down.