Book Description

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was, during his lifetime, an inspiration and an example; today his influence on American life is stronger than ever. This book is a pictorial record of Dr. King's leadership in the nonviolent movement for racial equality and human dignity from the boycott of segregated busing in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 until his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. The commentary accompanying the photographs includes a chronology of Dr. King's career and the texts of his major addresses. ... Read more

Book Description

At a turning point in American history, Martin Luther King, Jr., the minister of a small black Baptist church, was able to accomplish the impossible: he transposed the themes of love, suffering, and justice from the sacred shelter of the pulpit into the arena of public policy.

The Preacher King chronicles Martin Luther King, Jr.'s religious development from his childhood as a "preacher's kid" in segregated Atlanta to the most influential American orator of the twentieth-century. Richard Lischer draws almost exclusively on King's unpublished sermons and speeches to give the most accurate portrait possible. Utilizing speeches, recordings, interviews, and even police surveillance reports, Lischer shows the unedited King and reveals his real African-American preaching voice. But King was also profoundly influenced by Gandhi and philosophers such as Hegel, Marx, Thoreau, and Freud, and blended both into his compelling vision of brotherhood and and justice which electrified audiences nationwide. Lischer also focuses on the much ignored later phase of King's development wherein he was consumed by prophetic rage, leading him to condemn American religious and political hypocrisy.

In The Preacher King, Lischer has captured the crucial identity of Martin Luther King, Jr. Here is a complex human being who, unlike any other preacher in living memory, never gave up trying to shape a congregation of people that would be capable of redeeming the moral and political character of a nation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Evaluation of King's Preaching & Theology
One can easily see why this book was awarded the Outstanding Book of 1995 by the Religious Speech Communication Assoc., it is so well written. The research appears exhaustive, the writer is is firm touch with his subject matter, having poured over sermon manuscripts and listened to tape after tape, and conducted interview upon interview.

One is able to grasp the essence of King's preaching from this reading. Long suspecting that King comes out of the liberal element in the church, this confirmed that suspiscion. The theology and subsequent preaching is far from what my confession would maintain as Biblical. This is social gospel, theology not from heaven down, but earth up, trying to impose its agenda upon God, rather than letting His word and plan of salvation have its way.

While one can easily relate to the race problems and frustrations with an American that would not listen to the pleas, but an America that responded violently, there remains no cause to make the precious Gospel a political one. Jesus had attempts to preach such freedom from political oppression, but in each and every instance, He maintained the gospel at the level it is intended, spiritual.

King thus is out of sync with his namesake, Martin Luther, as well as the historic Christian church. The gospel is about the forgiveness of sins for the life everlasting. As the famous hymn sings: "What is the World to Me?"

This book is vibrant with the complexities of the background and influences on King's theology and preaching. Enjoyed it, yet sad that the title "preacher" is applied to such a false teacher of God's Word. To apply humanity's agenda above and beyond God's is the height of sin and rebellion.

Lischer
I love this book, but I was looking for the hard jacket, and could only find softcover. ... Read more

Book Description

President John F. Kennedy lived an extraordinary life. He was awarded a Purple Heart for bravery in World War II. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his book Profiles In Courage. He was the youngest man ever elected president and the first president born in the twentieth century.His commitment to civil rights and his efforts to limit the use of nuclear weapons changed American life. President John F. Kennedy’s life and, sadly, his early death, are part of history.

A voracious reader of biographies, President Kennedy has fittingly been the subject of many volumes himself. When asked why he enjoyed reading biographies, President Kennedy replied, "Because they answer the question 'What's he like?'"

In attempting to answer that question, author Shelley Sommer presents John F. Kennedy in his many roles -- as a boy, a young man, a war hero, a politician, a husband, a father, and finally a president. This look at John F. Kennedy, illustrated with photos from the Kennedy Family Collection and the Kennedy Library, gives young readers a look at a dynamic man whose personality and politics helped to shape the twentieth century and continue to influence American life today.

Reviews (1)

Good introduction to JFK
This is a well-written, child-focused account of the life and times of John F. Kennedy. It is an excellent starting point from which to launch the interest of young ones in recent history generally and the American presidency in particular.

I took a punt and purchased this book for my young son direct from Amazon (sans ANY customer reviews). Over the years he has become increasingly aware of my library of Kennedy books and has voiced some interest in obtaining a suitable biography (preferably less than 300+footnotes pages] from which to decidewhat all the fuss is about.

Three quarters of the way through reading this book the boy's view is that JFK's "life is like one huge adventure. You never know what's going to happen next."

And isn't that the sheer joy of history - discovering that real life is actually far more mesmorising than any fiction?

Ever since the boy started reading this book I've been peppered with questionsranging from (albeit less succinctly stated than here) how the American electoral process differs from Australia's, the historical effect of the Irish Catholic-Protestant divide in the US and how that played out in public life, to the reasons for World War II and why America (and the rest of us in the Western world) permitted the carving up of Europe in its wake (not at all easy to explain), the basis of the West's fear of communism and whether it was justified (particularly relevant in these post 9/11 days) - and these have been some of the easier queries I've faced so far.No doubt there are many more to come.

This is, of course, a book oriented towards children.It does not go into the gutter - although it certainly doesn't pretend that JFK was perfect (which is why I hadn't bothered giving my son some of the "young adult" biographies printed in the immediate days of JFK's death that were already in the library).

What this book does achieve is to provide what those truly interested in history hope for - an engaging tale of a real man (whom we follow from boyhood, youth to adult), with lots of interesting and relevant information for today's younger ones who so long for real life heroes, warts and all (as distinct from fictional creations) by which to measure themselves and their developing ideals and from whom to learn lessons (good and bad) from real life.

... Read more

Book Description

Two extraordinary lives told in rare, mostly never-before-published photographs

They were America's children, symbolic of hope and youth, then of tragedy, and finally of the enduring power of the Kennedy legacy. In the 255 vibrant photographs in this book-most never before published--we watch John and Caroline grow up in the adoring, and sometimes harsh, glare of public attention.

They were the youngest children to live in the White House in over a century-Caroline just three and John Jr. a newborn when their father too the oath of office. Symbolizing the youthful vigor of the new administration, they won the hearts of the American people as they romped around-and under-their father's desk in the Oval Office.And when, three years later, Caroline kissed JFK's coffin and John Jr. saluted the passing bier, they were forever etched into the nation's collective heart.

We see their awkward adolescence, their sorrows at senseless losses in the family, their first forays into romance, their efforts to establish themselves as responsible adults, their happy marriages and Caroline's motherhood. And we watch in admiration as Caroline recovers from the untimely death of her beloved brother to assume the mantle of the Camelot legend.

This is a book that will tug at the heartstrings of all who remember fondly these two remarkable American offspring. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

JACKIE, JOHN AND CAROLINE: OH NO!
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then James Spada's pictorial biography should be priceless when it comes to praise. Alas, it is nothing more than an excuse to throw together about 250 photos (some of which, if you believe the book's hype, have "never been published") that exploit, more than honor, the Kennedy siblings. See Caroline romp around the Oval Office. (Yet again.) See John-John salute dead Daddy. (Yet again). See them grow older and harass photographers. (Yet again.)  See them with Mommy and friends and lovers and cousins and aunts. See them on- and off-Cape, in and out of the water, on and off the stage. See John and his "other" Carolyn---wife Carolyn Bessette--fight on the streets of Manhattan. See how quickly we close the book

One of the best photo books about the Kennedys
I am a devoted collector of Kennedy material, and have seen most all photos of John and Caroline that have been published. But James Spada has done a wonderful job of seeking out the lesser known photos and making editorial choices which create a truly unique book. This volume celebrates the joy of their lives and helps salve the pain we felt as we saw them suffer loss. I would suggest this book as a gift to anyone who loved John and continues to love Caroline.

Sensational, sweet siblings
A truly lovely book for any 'Kennedyphile'. Beautiful pictures, many never before seen, and consise, accurate text. The book is a decade by decade photo album showing, both together and separately, what a good job Jackie did in raising these two unique individuals. As adults, they remained the closest of friends. The pictures of marital bliss between John and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are a little heavy handed, in light of their reported strained relationship, but they still bring a tear to the eye, wondering what might have been.

Touching, tender, loving and insightful
James Spada has created a loving tribute to the most famous brother and sister in America, John and Caroline Kennedy. Using a range of rarely seen photographs to tell the stories of their two remarkable lives, Spada weaves an emotionally vivid account of the lives of the Camelot Kids. A tasteful, and tasty, tribute to the children of JFK and Jackie.

A MUST HAVE for any Kennedy fan. ... Read more

Book Description

Presidents yearned to fire him, but were daunted by his storehouse of damaging secrets. Public officials and private citizens lived in fear of his illegal surveillance and harassment tactics. Now, in this ground-breaking, at times shocking biography, J. Edgar Hoover, the man who ruled over the FBI for nearly fifty years, emerges definitively as one of the greatest menaces of our times.

Official and Confidential, by the award-winning investigative journalist and author Anthony Summers, is the first book to expose the publicand the privateJ. Edgar Hoover. Other biographers have hinted at the dark secrets in the Director's life, but Summers courageously discloses the truth. After conducting more than eight hundred interviews and obtaining access to previously concealed documents, Summers has created a chilling portrait of a legendary figure who blatantly abused the public trust.

* J. Edgar Hoover, Summers establishes, was a closet homosexual and transvestite. Mafia bosses obtained information about Hoover's sex life and used it for decades to keep the FBI at bay. Without this, the Mafia as we know it might never have gained its hold in America.

* J. Edgar Hoover shamelessly accepted gifts and free lodging from millionaire oilmen, and appropriated FBI facilities for his personal use.

* J. Edgar Hoover influenced the course of World War II by ignoring an early warning about Pearl Harbor.

* J. Edgar Hoover used his knowledge of John F. Kennedy's womanizing to ensure that Lyndon Johnson became Vice President. He relied on dirty tricks to stay in office under Kennedy and subverted the Warren Commission's probe into the investigation of his death.

* J. Edgar Hoover himself was the target of a Watergate-era burglary attempt - and perhaps even a murder plot.

With these and other astonishing disclosures, Summers defines a man and his times. He explores Hoover's troubled youth as the son of a mentally ill father and a highly demanding mother, and the development of the obsessive behavior that dominated his later years. Summers takes the reader on an extraordinary journey, as a zealous young lawyer rebuilds an ineffectual corps of agents into a massive force capable of police-state tactics. With riveting detail, Summers documents Hoover's behind-the-scenes role in war and peace through fifty years and eight presidential administrations.

Richly anecdotal, meticulously researched Official and Confidential depicts some of the most controversial and colorful events of our century. Here is a disturbing lesson in how one man was able to abuse his position of power and change the course of American history. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Devastating.
The chief of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, who normally should have been the moral conscience of the country, was a paedophile and a drag queen. Into the bargain, he was neutralized by the Mafia. He fiercely opposed Kennedy's anti-racial laws, although he himself had black blood in his veins.
He blackmailed all members of Congress and all the presidents he could, by letting them know that he possessed compromising documents about them. It must be said that some people were easy targets.

Anthony Summers did a formidable job. His book is based on a wealth of references.
It is a must read, because it describes a perfect example of how one single person through his organization could exercise nearly unlimited power in a democratic country.

Why we should be scared by the Patriot Act
This book is important to read in the post-9/11 era. At a time when every cable-news pundit is crying out for Congress to take the shackles off the FBI, it is good to remember why Congress slapped those shackles on in the first place.

The author makes a pretty strong case that J. Edgar Hoover was a thoroughly corrupt, racist, mentally unbalanced megolomaniac who egregiously abused his powers for financial and political gain. I'm skeptical of some of the author's wilder allegations -- for example, a suggestion that Richard Nixon may have had Hoover killed by poisoning his toothpaste. However, many of the abuses of Hoover's FBI were well-documented in Congressional investigations in the 1970's: the secret files; the unfettered use of wiretaps, bugs, infiltration, warrantless searches and seizures (i.e., burglaries), and other methods of surveillance, all done without any judicial oversight and often without any legitimate law enforcement purpose; harassing Vietnam War protestors, people in the Civil Rights movement, suspected "Communists," and other political "enemies."

One of the book's main points is that Hoover kept himself in power for so many years -- despite evident corruption and manifest incompetence -- by blackmailing successive presidents with the dirt he had gathered on their private lives. Although largely speculative, the possibility does seem to be frighteningly plausible. Other allegations that appear to be supported by fairly good circumstantial evidence include Hoover's ties to the Mafia and his sexual hypocrisy.

I'm giving the book only 4 stars because the author's breathless, tabloid style makes it difficult to really sort out established facts from mere rumor, innuendo and hearsay. Still, it is a very entertaining and thought-provoking read.

A Stellar Research Effort
Britisher Anthony Summers is a crack researcher who was seasoned in the finest documentary atmosphere available, that of the legendary BBC. This book is every bit as fascinating as Summers's work on Richard Nixon. While the Nixon book was entitled "The Arrogance of Power," this work on the life and times of controversial FBI director J. Edgar Hoover could well be titled "The Abuse of Power."

Summers reveals how Hoover was a man in between who was trapped by the same method he used to compromise and place in fear presidents and members of Congress. A tenacious investigator, he turned his agent-bloodhounds loose on men in power, gaining enough information to compromise them. The moment an influential House or Senate member would complain about FBI abuse, he would receive a call from Hoover informing of information he held. At the same time, Hoover was in turn compromised by what the Mafia held on him. Hoover, an outwardly homophobic director who stated bluntly that he did not anyone of that persuasion working in his Bureau, had a homosexual life he attempted to keep secret. Frank Costello and other Mafia chieftains let him know that if he threatened their domain they had important information they would use against him.

Another fascinating element of Summers's book is his detailed revelations about Hoover's influence with U.S. presidents. He was said to have influenced John F. Kennedy's choice of Lyndon Johnson for his running mate in 1960 because Hoover held potentially damaging evidence on Kennedy's womanizing, which would have destroyed efforts to paint the Massachusetts senator as a loyal family man in the hard-fought 1960 campaign against Richard Nixon. Nixon was a politician who also had reason to fear Hoover. He was never willing to replace him for that reason, despite an expressed preference to do so.

This is a book that takes the readers to the highest portals of power and uncovers many secrets. Hoover had a profound influence on American politics from the thirties until his death in 1972.

Tabloid Style Hatchet Job
Let me begin by saying that I'm no fan of the late J. Edgar Hoover. His refusal for many years to investigate both organized crime and civil rights violations amounted to pure dereliction of duty and his persecution of anyone whose political views differed from his own was tyrannical and downright un-American (a label that would have shocked Hoover). Still, I'll even give the devil his due and it must be admitted, as more balanced biographies, such as Gentry's and Powers', have observed, that Hoover did largely create the FBI, one of the greatest law enforcement agencies in the world, and also did much to professionalize law enforcement and bring it into the 20th Century. That's not the problem I have with this book. It's a cheap shot, designed mainly to prove that Hoover was a closet homosexual and transvestite being blackmailed into submission by the Mob. This may or may not be the case--I've long suspected Hoover was a fag but in the absence of proof have always been inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt--but Summers' "evidence," consisting mostly of gossip and hearsay, is unconvincing. It's also difficult to believe that Hoover, whatever his vices or other faults, could have been stupid enough to place himself in a compromising position. Summers' sources speak of photos showing Hoover and Clyde Tolson engaged in homosexual acts but no such pictures have ever turned up. The whole theory is spurious. If the Mob was blackmailing Hoover into submission, then how did the Kennedys force Hoover to finally move against organized crime in the early '60's? Moreover, while even the FBI admits that the momentum of its anti-Mob drive slowed down after JFK's assassination, it never really ended either. The writing style is unimpressive (especially the author's childish and annoying attempt to personalize the Director by referring to him throughout as "Edgar"), the source notes are inadequate, and the whole product leaves much to be desired. As to the quality of the alleged research, any author who takes Jay Robert Nash's silly and long disproven theory of Dillinger's survival seriously can't really be said to have done his homework. This is shoddy journalism at its absolute worst.

Hoover's Secret Life Publicized
The 35 unlisted chapters tell of J.Edgar Hoover's secret life while ruling the FBI for 48 years. William Hitz, a relative, helped him to get a job with the Library of Congress after high school (his father was put into an asylum, his mother received no pension, and JEH became the sole support of the family). JEH attended George Washington University Las School at night. After graduation he joined the Dept. of Justice. GWU graduates and his Kappa Alpha fraternity were among his closest associates (p.61). (The author did not mention his Masonic Lodge or the connection with General Ralph Van Deman.) JEH attracted favorable notice by A. Bruce Bielaski, head of the Bureau of Investigation.

JEH's first action, after becoming Director, was to clean up the Bureau. During his reign corruption among FBI agents was unheard of - a rare achievement in any police force. But he also avoided policing drug traffic because of the risk of corruption (p.50). JEH also denied the existence of organized crime; Chpaters 21-23 explain why.

JEH benefited greatly under FDR, a fellow Mason. From the Civil War the Secret Service (as its name implies) handled counter-intelligence; FDR re-assigned this to the FBI for reasons of state and his own political benefit (p.105). The FBI soon began to conduct political intelligence: investigating striking mill workers (whose benefit?), the ACLU, the American Nazi movement, etc. These matters had nothing to do with law enforcement. (When the FBI was created in 1908, those who voted against it said it would become a Secret Police on the European model.) Spying on Americans would be pursued "with the utmost degree of secrecy"; there was no written official memorandum. JEH created a "Custodial Detention List" of people who would be jailed in time of war. It included Harrison Salisbury of the New York Times - as an alleged Nazi employee (p.108)! FDR also authorized uncontrolled wiretapping by the FBI (p.113). Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon also used his wiretaps (p.115).

Pages 122-129 retell the story of Dusan Popov and his 1941 interview with JEH. Popov was a Nazi spy and British double agent who was sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information for the Japanese attack. The failure to use this information is presented as a great mistake. But the publication of Robert B. Stinnett's "Day of Deceit" shows a reason for this seeming mistake.

Pages 145-147 tell about the surveillance on Joseph Lash. When FDR was informed of his alleged affair with Eleanor, he ordered the soldiers in the unit sent to fight in the front lines!

Chapter 20 tells how Hoover and Tolson were guilty of federal offenses: private use of government property, accepting gifts from lesser-paid employees. They could have been dismissed and given ten years.

Pages 270-273 tell how JFK chose LBJ as vice-president. Pages 290-294 discusses the rumors about JFK's first marriage. Page 335 quotes high-level officials who suggest JEH was senile in his late 60s; to justify the mandatory retirement at 70?

Page 365 discusses the evidence in Senator RF Kennedy's assassination: "twelve or more bullets were fired. Sirhan's gun was capable of firing only eight". Two gunmen were involved! The autopsy of RFK said he was killed by a bullet fired into the back of his head from a distance of 2.5 inches; all the eyewitnesses said Sirhan was firing from the front and never closer than 6 feet.

Chapter 34 tells of Nixon's attempts to fire JEH; Nixon couldn't. Nixon denied that it was due to blackmail, but Kissinger tells a different story (p.405). JEH was bugging Nixon in more ways that one (p.407).

This book gives the backstage view to people who only saw it from the audience. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting look at Camelot
Children might not be aware that the White House has been home to many "First Families" with children of their own and are sure to enjoy the images of Macaroni the Pony and other such antics.

It is also a good read for adults interested in the are. It captures Kennedy era culture. I had no idea they created those hideous plastic masks of JFK and Jackie! This volume is lushly illustrated with sidebars and smaller photographs as well.

I was sadden to realize that only Caroline remains of Camelot. The last few pages- the saddest birthday remind us of the tragedy our nation endured.

This is great for kids and adults alike!

A great look at the Kennedy White House -- for kids!
Some of the most moving images from the Kennedy family's time in the White House are included in this new book for kids. It's easy to understand, and older kids may even choose to read it themselves. And, oh yes, it's a great read for adults, too! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Martin luther King jr. Book response
This review is about the book My life with Martin Luther King Jr. By Coretta Scott King. This book touched me because my grandpa used to know Dr.King and this book tells me all the stuff my grandpa never told me. Like when Martin protested to all the whites, the Ku Klux Klan, or [KKK] told Dr.King to stop protesting or he would never see his family again, but Martin was not afraid,and with that the KKK bombed his house as a warning, luckally no one was hurt. The "I have a dream speech". Won Dr.King the noble peace prize, That angered the KKK and in his hotel The KKK guned him down in front of his family, and after the funeral the Mayor made it a law to treat blacks equally. Martin Luther King had one but had lost his life in the process.
I reccomend this book to all people [Blacks & Whites alike] that had a goal in life and did not stop until they achevied it.

Coretta King writes an epic of the life of her husband
I read this book for my Modern American History class and aside from two uses of "G__ d___," which I feel Mrs. King used to show the historical accuracy of the persecution during one of Martin's marches, that this was an informative read. I don't know that much about black history, but Mrs. King seems to go in depth while being completely concise. Famous historical figures such as Malcolm X and Ralph Abernathy are littered throughout and we have what I believe is probably an accurate view of the mores and values of the times. The book inspired me to stand up for my beliefs at the expense of persecution. In this book, we have a more human picture of Martin, the love he shared for people and his determination to lead them out of the valley of despair. As I approached the end of the book, I couldn't put it down because I was completely riveted at the events that ensued after his assassination. I've not read any other books about this period, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the authorative work on the history of black civil rights during that time period.

A Wonderful Book by Far!!!!!!
I thought the book was wonderful!!! It gave me insight to what life was like living with MLK Jr. You felt the pain when things went wrong. You felt the happiness when things went right. Coretta Scott King did a great job of letting everyone know the imtimate details of her and her husbands life. If you haven't read it , check it out. Trust me, as a teen, it was a book that grasped my interest. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!!!

And I thought she was just the wife of a great leader...
After reading this book, my respect for the great leader Dr. King, as well as his phenomenal wife grew. I never knew she was a such a success story apart from Dr. King. I also admire her for literally laying down her life to be a support to her husband. The courage she demonstrated encouraged me so. I am also the wife of a Black Baptist preacher and I now know that there are no limits for me and any strong Black male leader must have a strong Black woman standing behind him. ... Read more

Book Description

Completely revised and updated.

He was born the most famous baby in the world, son of the President-elect of the United States.Millions saw him as a little boy who said goodbye to his father with a final salute -- a heartbreaking image that became part of history.Now, three decades later, another generation of Camelot comes to a tragic end.

This fascinating unauthorized biography reveals as no other the inner dynamics of the marriage between John and Jacqueline Kennedy; John, Jr.'s search for a father figure in his uncles Robert and Ted Kennedy and his stepfather Aristotle Onassis. It reveals young John's dreams of becoming an actor, his career in law, and his founding of George magazine.And it intimately details his role of loving son to his late mother, devoted husband to Carolyn Bessette, and as America's Prince Charming to the rest of the world.

With a dazzling array of updated photos, Prince Charming delves below the glossy surface to tell the inspiring, flesh-and-blood true story of a young man born to live a life that was destined to be called a legend. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Excellent book very informative
Prince Charming is a fast-reading, wonderful and informative book. It gives real insight into the life of JFK, Jr. and is very well written .

Very good reading if you felt you watch John Jr. grow up.
I felt I grew up with John Jr since he was close to my age and was always in the spotlight. This book revealed how much of the spotlight he was in and how he graciously tried to handle it. Obviously there couldn't be very much information on him and Carolyn's relationship but the book helped me through the mourning period and handling his death a little better. I felt I lost a brother too when he died. I couldn't put it down.

Generation Xer says: "Good Read"
As a generation "Xer" this book intrigued me for one shallow purpose at the forthright. John F. Kennedy, Jr. was and will always remain in the public's eye as a sex symbol. I was glad that the author started out with something familiar when introducing her book. Beginning with the how and why of John's appointment to the sexiest man alive was something that I remembered and could identify with. Without any knowledge of the Kennedy "clan" as she terms them, and even less historical knowledge, I could identify with the placement of John on the cover of People magazine. While I had heard of President Kennedy's alleged affairs it came as a shock to see other members of the Kennedy family hold such little esteem for marriage vows. The author really brings Jackie Kennedy down to earth and sure makes me long for her happiness and admire the strength of such a delicate looking woman. She certainly isn't short on male companionship and some of her relationships leave you wondering why she didn't just go it alone. The details behind John's relationships are intriguing and the relationship with Madonna was particularly surprising to this reader. The author paints the picture of John being less than the smartest Kennedy but far outshining with his personality, athletic abilities, and Kennedy charisma. The well-known ending is tragic and left me with the same sinking feeling as I did watching the T.V. hoping his plane would be found or by some chance to find out he hadn't been on board at all. A good read for anyone wanting more information on the Kennedy family and most importantly on John Jr.

Gossip
this book is nothing but gossip.this lady prints facts people already know. dont waste your money

Not a good source for Carolyn Bessette information.
This back of the book cover led me to believe there would be interesting information on his wife, Carolyn. Ha! There was practically no information on his wife. I learned more about her in a single magazine article then from this book. It has the basic geographic info: born, lived, schooled. Boring. If you are a diehard JFK JR then go for it, otherwise there are much better books on him. If you are looking for Carolyn info, look elsewhere. Period. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unheroic in appearance, given to "deacon-sober suits" and "ponderous gravity," Martin Luther King Jr. ushered in an epochal era of change in the United States. Closely watching King'sjourney from Montgomery to Birmingham to the Lincoln Memorial to Memphis was journalist Marshall Frady, who honors the minister's achievement and spirit in this lucid biography.

"Almost a geological age ago, it seems now--that great moral saga of belief and violence that unfolded in the musky deeps of the South during the civil rights movement of the fifties and sixties." So Frady opens his account, which traces King's transformation from withdrawn, unconfident child to eloquent champion of the oppressed, ever unafraid to trouble the waters. Frady explores King's conflicts, contradictions, and triumphs, as well as the great personal cost he bore in urging nonviolent change in a singularly violent time.

Part of the excellent Penguin Lives series, this slender volume sheds much light on a prophet now honored, but still too little understood. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr., born on January 15, 1929,was named after his father Martin Luther King Sr. King Sr. was the preacher at the local Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.Although, daily he spoke the truths of Christianity, his actions didn't always correspond with what he preached. In furies of rage Martin Luther King Sr. would often horribly beat his wife and children. Martin Luther King Jr. was so troubled by his father's beatings that he attempted killing himself three times.
At age fifteen, after graduating very early from highschool, the rather unmotivated King attended Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, King went on to attend Cruzed Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania,where he was to become a preacher like his father. It was here that King seemingly grew up; he studied hard, became class president, and graduated as valdictorian. When King proposed to Coretta Scott in the early 1950s he was already engaged to a few other former girlfriends from back home. They married in 1953, spending their honeymoon night in the basement of a funeral parlor because the nearest hotels and motels were segregated.
In 1954 the newlyweds moved to Montgomery Alabama where the young King became the highly respected preacher at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.King's life would shortly change when he was asked to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott that lasted over a year.Eventually he joined the NAACP and began the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King was arrested several times for his non-violent actions. During one of these incidents he composed his famous "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." He befriended the Kennedy brothers (somewhat) in their effort to help the movement. On August 28, 1963 King recited his, "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, by a sniper, James Earl Ray.

ANOTHER VIEW
Since his death in 1968, a plethora of books about Martin Luther King, Jr. has inundated the shelves of bookstores. Every angle about his life and work has been explored, critiqued and analyzed. Is there room for one more as we continue the quest for making King's dream for equality a reality? Penquin Lives says yes as it presents a brief biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. as seen through the eyes of a white southern reporter during the era, Marshall Frady.

Mr. Frady was one of those reporters assigned to interpret and bring some sense of clarity to the public about the rising civil rights movement and its major leader, King. As a young reporter, he carried out his mission and now as an older statesman of the press he gives us another view about King, his work and his impact on the national scene.

Martin Luther King, Jr. focuses on the success, failures and conflicts of a leader caught in a movement that swept him up into the pinacles of history. We see another dimension of King who is vain, unorganized, guilt ridden and a womanizer. His lieutenants are egotistical, mystical, self-serving and dedicated to the cause of freedom. King's genius in keepint these varied personalities in check for a greater cause is a testament to his genius.

Frady really doesn't tell the reader anything new about King that hasn't been said before. He merely encapsulates previous information into a format that is readily accessible to those who want to get a brief history of King and the movement but can't endure reading works of countless pages of information. In this Frady excels and does a fine job of being brief but doesn't offer the reader in better insights about the man.

I would recommend this book to those who want to get a brief snapshot of King from the perspective of a white southerner. Otherwise I would encourage readers to explore other books that give a more in depth look at the complex life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King and Moral Struggle
In a short space, Marshall Frady has written an informative, inspiring and thoughtful biography of Martin Luther King Jr., of the nature of his achievement, of his America, and of his vision. The book does not engage in hero-worship or myth-making but rather presents Dr. King as a tortured.conflicted, and lonely individual. Frady writes at the close of his introduction (p.10) (itself a wonderful summation of the book and of Dr. King's achievement): "And what the full-bodied reality of King should finally tell us, beyond all the awe and celebration of him, is how mysteriously mixed, in what torturously complicated frms, our moral heroes -- our prophets --actually come to us."

A theme of this book is how Dr. King's moral vision and achievement emerged from moral conflict. Dr King spent most of his career walking a difficult path between extremes. At the beginning of his career, he was criticized by the more conservative black establishment which preferred to use the courts rather than demonstrations as a means to promote racial equality. Indeed, Frady tells us, the Mongomery bus boycott of 1955, which catapaulted Dr. King into national prominence, did not end the segregation of the city's bus system -- a court decision did.

Towards the end of his career, black leaders such as Malcolm X and Stokely Charmichael pressured Dr. King to abandon his philosophy of nonviolence. He did not do so. But Frady shows us how Dr. King and Malcolm X near the end of their lives each learned something from the other.

King's most difficult moral struggle was with himself. Frady gives us a convincing picture of how Dr. King, whose appeal rested upon an ability to convey moral and religous principle, struggled (unsuccessfully) with sexuality. A myriad of affairs followed him and his mission from beginning to end. Frady has insightful things to say about the relationship between Dr. King's tortured, complex personal life and his public mission.

Frady also describes how near the end of his career with segregation on the decline in the South, Dr. King tried to expand his mission by opposing the war in Vietnam and by his "poor peoples campaign" which Dr. King saw as an attack on the materialism, impersonality, and greed that he found pervaded American life. In so expanding his mission, Dr. King alienated many of his followers. His lasting achievement does not rest upon these later activities, according to Frady, but rather upon the idealism and moral committment with which he was able to infuse American life during a few short years.

Frady gives us an eloquent discussion of Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech in Washington D.C. Later in his career, Dr King set forth his vision for America by speaking in terms of a "Beloved Community", a phrase adopted from the early 20th Century American philosopher, Josiah Royce. Dr King said (p. 183) "When I talk about power and the need for power, I'm talking in terms of the need for power to bring about ... the creation of the Beloved Community." Our nation is still trying to recover something of Dr. King's idealism and of the best of his vision.

This book encourages us to think about and to formulate for ourselves the vision of America as a "Beloved Community" by reflecting on the life and achievement of a complex man.

A Pretty Little Atrocity
This book begins with a sentence fragment arguing that the age of white racism and Southern apartheid seems like ancient history. It ends by implying that it was really all for the best that Dr. King was shot when he was shot, as he was "passing irretrievably into decline." The stuff in between these two whoppers is cribbed from a range of authors, all of whom are vastly more qualified than Frady to have written this book for Penguin Lives.

Alas, I suspect Penguin is simply engaging in good marketing here. Yuppies buy most of the books, and this one is a perfect ego-stroke to yuppies. It lets you say you know something about MLK, without having your basic worldview challenged by a truthful presentation of his real meaning. Imagine Dr. King living to challenge our economic and political elites over several more decades. If you're smug and dumb enough to believe this wouldn't have mattered, you'll be happy to have Frady's tropes.

The book is a serious miseducation.

Insights into a Man and his Times
This is one of the best of the often excellent Penguin Lives series. Martin Luther King is presented as a real man with insecurities, self-doubts, college plagarizing and womanizing. But he is also shown as the key individual in the incredible progress (I know it doesn't feel like it--but read the book and its picture of the country in the fifties!) we have made in the area of race relations.

MLK is portrayed as a man who rose above his everydayness to achieve insights into the areas of race, poverty and oppression which would move a nation. Blessed in his enemies--the egregious Bull Connor, the banty rooster George Wallace (in his first incarnation) and the despicable J. Edgar Hoover--gave the nation a contrast in possibilities. Despite the reluctance of the Kennedys, the backbiting of his own lieutenants and the inconstancy of the national media, MLK made a difference. To read about his speech at the Linclon Memorial still gives me shivers.

This is a fair, honest portrait of a man who made a difference. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The True American Patriot
This is the story of the All American Boy. Born and raised in middle America, Kansas, Sam takes up marching in the school band. He meets a young girl named Annette, who will later play a intregal role in his life. His love of the discipline and regimentation, leads him to Missouri Military Academy, where he excells in all his classes, and knows that he wants to be a career soldier.By the time he graduates he is accepted in one of the nations most prestigous private military colleges, The Citadel. He advanced throught the ranks to become one of the highest ranking cadets. He joins the Army in 1961 and serves in Korea, as an aide to the commanding general, and is appointed to go to the Presidential Honor Guard The 3d United States Infantry, The Old Guard, at Ft. Myer, VA, where unbeknownst to him, he will become one of the most recognised soldiers in modern American history.On November 22, 1963,President John F. Kennedy is assasinated, and it is LT. Sam Bird and members of the military honor guard who will accompany and escort the body of the fallen president from Air Force One continuosly until he is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A few years later, while serving in Viet Nam, CPT Bird will be greivously wounded in an enemy ambush, where many of his men are killed and he will loose half of this skull and brains to enemy machinegun fire.Miracuosly Sam survives and while living at home recoupperating from the massive injury, Sam meets his old friend Annette, who falls for her former schoolmate,even though his is only part of the vibrant young man she once knew. They spend the next 15 years together enjoying life to the fullest extent that life can offer Sam, even though he is almost completely confined to a wheelchair. Sam's last visit to his old duty station at Ft. Myer, is met with honor and dignity as he is the guest of honor.This is a story of inspiration, devotion, dedication and courage, of a Real American Patriot and Hero. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In A Common Good: The Friendship of Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth P. O'Donnell, Helen O'Donnell pays tribute to her father Kenneth and his lifelong friend Bobby Kennedy. Kenneth O'Donnell met Bobby Kennedy at Harvard right after World War II, and the men remained fast friends for the rest of their lives, playing football together, working side by side on political campaigns, and striving to change the world. O'Donnell was a masterful organizer and a forthright political operator, skills that came in handy on many a campaign trail. He helped John F. Kennedy through several elections and finally served as his gatekeeper in the White House, the man who decided who got access to the president and when they got it. He came to be called "the Cobra" in the White House because of the fierce way he guarded the president's time. O'Donnell writes that her father was also involved in many policy decisions, and that despite their different socioeconomic backgrounds, the Kennedy and O'Donnell families were close. Because of O'Donnell's family connections and her access to the normally closed Kennedy archives, this book contains lots of behind-the-scenes information about the Kennedy campaigns and the intersecting lives of the two families. The untimely deaths of John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy shattered Kenneth O'Donnell. He took to drinking, staged two unsuccessful campaigns for governor of Massachusetts, and died young. At its heart, this is a very sad book about a man who lost his best friend and then didn't know what to do with himself. --Jill Marquis ... Read more

Reviews (5)

very exciting
this book tells us about rfk,jfk and kenny o'donnel. it tells us about how they were, and it's very interessing. I suggest it to all people who are fan of the keenedys, like me. there are a few rares photos.

Wonderful memories
I used to work with the author's uncle, Cleo, who also plays a large part in this book. Over lunch and sometimes drinks after work, he used to tell us some of the wonderful stories of his and his brother's friendship with the Kennedy brothers. When I saw this book, I had to get it and it is bringing back wonderful memories of 25 years ago in Boston. In fact, if I am not mistaken, the author herself may have helped out in the office once or twice during school vacations. In any case, if you are a Kennedy fan, this is a touching, well-written book full of warmth and good stories about the Kennedys' and O'Donnells' as real people, written by someone who knew them. Don't miss it.

A STERLING EXAMPLE OF FRIENDSHIP
Kenny O'Donnell has done an outstanding job of providing insight to a man who figured largely in world history. He has drawn a very real, very strong portrait of a man who set and met many personal goals in his personal and professional life. Robert Kennedy was, in my opinion the most interesting of his brothers. Mr. O'Donnell does an excellent job of describing the aura of sincerity Robert Kennedy exuded. He helps bring a man into focus who has been dead for many years by describing the consistencies of his character. Robert Kennedy was clearly a very driven, very determined and very hard working man. He was also a very caring, very committed and very compassionate as well. He was a central figure in world history and I think the late Senator's works have certainly influenced the world for the better. This book is definitely worth reading.

The well-oiled Kennedy machine
A Common Good is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. It is a warm portrayl of Bobby, Jack and Kenny O'Donnel as people. There are laughs and poignant moments. It s a must for anyone interested in Robert Kennedy.

heartfelt
You can tell that the author (Ken O'Donnell's daughter) greatly admired and loved both subjects of her book (Bobby Kennedy and Ken O'Donnell). It's an inspiring tribute to a past era. Helen O'Donnell hardly knew Bobby Kennedy (she was 6 when he was killed). However, she grew up listening to stories about him. Her mother and father both loved Bobby Kennedy, for different reasons. They gave her a discriptive account of Bobby, the man, and RFK, the politician. With rumors that have become accepted and unsubstantiated truths, new books such as "RFK: A Candid Biography" that try to dirty his name, as well as a fading national memory of his contributions; this book is a refreshing change. Ms. O'Donnell mentions that Bobby was her father's hero, and as told by Jackie Kennedy herself, Bobby was Jackie's hero as well. It's nice to read something positive about Bobby Kennedy, my hero. ... Read more

Book Description

A thorough, illustrated biography discussing the president's childhood, his career, his family, and his term as President of the United States. Includes a time line and glossary. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mr. Adler needs to do a better job checking his facts
While I think it is important for young people to have books to read about the important figures in our history, I think it is imperative that an author makes sure his facts are correct. In his book, Mr. Adler has JFK being elected to the Senate in 1952 and reelected in 1956. Yes, JFK was elected to the Senate for the first time in 1952, beating Henry Cabot Lodge, but he was not reelected in 1956. Senate terms are six years unless there are special circumstances, which there were not in this case, which means JFK would not have to run again until 1958. He did so and was elected by the largest margin in Massachusetts state history at that time. In 1956 JFK made an attempt to be the Democrat's candidate for Vice President on the ticket with Adlai Stevenson, but he was defeated in that attempt by fellow Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee. How can we expect our children to have their facts straight when we do not provide them with the correct information to begin with. How this mistake got past the author, editor and publisher, I do not know, but that fact that it did is [unheard of]

The Real John F. Kennedy
I really enjoyed reading this picture book. This book portrays JFK as a normal person who had real problems in his life. Dispite being one America's Great Presidents, people can see the other side of him as well. The everyday boy growing up in a big family. I learned what he did as a kid, and how sickly he was. This book even gave information about his brothers as well. The illustrations are incredible. The pictures are almost a perfect likeness of JFK and his family. ... Read more