The Kennedy Brothers
The Rise and Fall of Jack and Bobby
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The Kennedy Brothers
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Narrated by:
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Peter Altschuler
About this listen
Books about the Kennedys are legion. Yet missing until now has been the exploration of the bond between Jack and Bobby, and the part that it played in their rise and fall. Eight years apart in age, they were wildly different in temperament and sensibility. Jack was the born leader—charismatic, ironic, capable of extraordinary growth and reach, yet also pathologically reckless. Bobby was the fearless, hardworking Boy Scout—unafraid of dirty work and ruthless about protecting his brother and destroying their enemies. Jack, it was said, was the first Irish Brahman, Bobby the last Irish Puritan.
As Mahoney demonstrates with brilliant clarity in this impeccably documented, magisterial book, the Kennedys lived their days of power in dangerous, trackless territory. The revolution in Cuba had created a poisonous cauldron of pro- and anti-Castro forces, the CIA, J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, and the Mafia. Mahoney gives us Jack and Bobby in all their hubris and humanity, youthfulness and fatalism. Here is American history as it unfolds. The Kennedy Brothers is a fresh and masterful account of the men whose legacy continues to hold the American imagination. (Originally published under the title Sons and Brothers.)
Richard D. Mahoney is Kennedy Scholar Emeritus of the University of Massachusetts. He is an expert on international economics and foreign policy. He is the author of two histories of the Kennedy administration, and was the Democratic secretary of state and acting governor of Arizona. He lives in Phoenix.
©1999, 2011 Richard D. Mahoney (P)2012 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
Editor reviews
With family connections as his starting point, former Arizona Secretary of State and scholar at the Kennedy Library Mahoney probes the intriguing relationship between Kennedy brothers "cool" Jack and "hot tempered" Bobb to provide a new perspective to a well-studied slice of American history. Their mutual devotion, as well as their loyalty to family patriarch Joseph, is explored with a serious, somber yet vibrant reading by Peter Altschuler and offers an engaging look at an iconic family as well as a persuasive take on the tumultuous 1960s: what led up to the era and how it continues to influence events of today.
What listeners say about The Kennedy Brothers
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 01-12-21
Harrowing
I grew up well after the Kennedys but always heard of their good work. The only detail I learned was from tv programs surrounding the assassination of Jack.
I must say, that this book puts a spotlight on RK and does so with respect. I feel I have a better understanding of what happened/ what it was like then. I had to remind myself time and again that this is a true story because the events are so poignant, one might easily feel like it were fictional.
The book is a fairly long read/listen with such rich content one has to hang onto every word. A lot of characters there as well, I’d have to read it again.
Might get a hard copy just to look at on the shelf.
I will not forget this read for a very long time…….
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kim
- 28-12-22
Interesting but didn’t like reader
It supported what I had always thought. Gave quite an in depth insight to their beliefs and dreams, although some important facts were washed over. Overall I enjoyed it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rick
- 08-10-22
Closest thing there is to time travel.
It’s always difficult to know what a politician was like. With the left and the right exaggerating the good and the bad. This book is based on the recordings of real conversations throughout the administration. You step back in time to 1960s America and feel as if you are in the Oval Office with them, following word for word every major event from the brink of nuclear war with the Cuban Missile crisis - right up to the assassination and the turbulent aftermath. Unprecedented detail offering an intimate look behind the curtain of the inner workings of running the free world. If you like history you’ll love this book if you like JFK & politics you’ll like this book, if you like all three just download the Damn Book already!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs Valda R Musker
- 01-12-21
Politics, Mafia and Hollywood all meshed together
A bit heavy in places but interesting to hear the warts and all story of the golden boy of American politics.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-08-19
Exactly what I wanted
This book gives objective insight of many different perspectives, which gives you all you need to form an opinion. It's perfect.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- gille
- 04-11-21
REVEALING
Fascinating revelations, especially regarding Bobby. Horrified by the CORRUPTION that gained votes and the US slams corruption in Africa & other countries as if it doesn't continue in the USA?? Found the narrative harmed by the ever frequent 'quote'/'unquote' in the text!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JulianC
- 31-08-22
Uncovering the facts behind the myths
The story of the Kennedy brothers is written in the many films and books. But this book uncovers the astonishing facts and intrigues that are even more fascinating than the myths. Packed full of details the story really comes to life in the second half… only criticism was the superfluous and, in my opinion, unnecessary use of the word “quote” and “unquote” around every direct quote!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dorset Tortoise.
- 19-03-22
Quote quote quote
Nearly gave up because of all the "quotes. Some were really not necessary - we can follow speech
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 28-10-21
The world without the Kennedy's
Listen to this book on speed 0.90 👌
The narrative of the writer intertwines the Kennedy speeches and their reference to the Greek Gods with that of the tragedy of their own lives. For most, such a description would dramatise the elegance, but not this telling. The beauty is the tragedy and vise versa - I'm left thinking of what the world would have looked like had one or both lived.
The reader who loves the mystery of the kennedy's will not be disappointed, Jack had star quality, but is no doubt in my mind (nor the writers in this telling) that Bobby was the true diamond. A man who held the pressure all his life, rough around the edges before working himself into a piece of extordinary value. The example Bobby gave the world is that of ferocity, courage and gentleness. In a sad way, his ability to reflect and overcome his own flawed thinking shows us all that no one is beyond change and maybe, just maybe he came and went before the world needed him.
I encourage anyone to listen to this - you'll be glad they lived and sad they exited too soon.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jamickle
- 25-03-22
Full of rich detail
Very interesting listen, narrator enjoyable once you became used to his tone. He sounded very authoritative but those damn quote/unquotes really did my head in after a while. Would definitely recommend even though the latter part felt a bit rushed
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