Dr. Feelgood

The Story of the Doctor Who Influenced History by Treating and Drugging Prominent Figures Including President Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley

By: Richard A. Lertzman, William J. Birnes

Narrated by: Don Azevedo

Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

An historical exposé of the mysterious doctor who changed the course of the 20th century, with interviews by George Clooney, Yogi Berra, and others.

Doctor Max Jacobson, whom the Secret Service under President John F. Kennedy code-named “Dr. Feelgood,” developed a unique “energy formula” that altered the paths of some of the 20th century’s most iconic figures, including President and Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis. JFK received his first injection (a special mix of “vitamins and hormones,” according to Jacobson) just before his first debate with Vice President Richard Nixon. The shot into JFK’s throat not only cured his laryngitis, but also diminished the pain in his back, allowed him to stand up straighter, and invigorated the tired candidate. Kennedy demolished Nixon in that first debate and turned a tide of skepticism about Kennedy into an audience that appreciated his energy and crispness. What JFK didn’t know then was that the injections were actually powerful doses of a combination of highly addictive liquid methamphetamine and steroids.

Author and researcher Rick Lertzman and New York Times best-selling author Bill Birnes reveal heretofore unpublished material about the mysterious Dr. Feelgood. Through well-researched prose and interviews with celebrities including George Clooney, Jerry Lewis, Yogi Berra, and Sid Caesar, the authors reveal Jacobson’s vast influence on events such as the assassination of JFK, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy-Khrushchev Vienna Summit, the murder of Marilyn Monroe, the filming of the C. B. DeMille classic The Ten Commandments, and the work of many of the great artists of that era. Jacobson destroyed the lives of several famous patients in the entertainment industry and accidentally killed his own wife, Nina, with an overdose of his formula.

©2013 Richard A. Lertzman and William J. Birnes (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A Fun Summer Read

An entertaining story. Well narrated. I like to know the back-story of the main character and this book does not disappoint. The conspiracy theories about JFK and Nixon are a wee farfetched, but it only adds to the allure of Dr. Feelgood. Just sit back and let the sun warm you, this is a great listen.

Story ok

I just did like there were not more details about the stars that he worked on outside of JFK. That was the only good story about a famous person he treated. No more details on any other.

Fascinating account of the drug dealer 2 the stars

The most disturbing aspect of this book is President JFK's addiction to the doctor's "miracle elixir." If, in fact, half of what is written is true, it is scary how modern history was influenced, if not written, by a doctor pushing amphetamine-laced dtugs. Full of anecdotes and accounts that are well documented, it is hard not to believe this book is an accurate account of several decades of the last century.

Fascinating story...

As one who had never heard of 'Dr. Feelgood', I was amazed and intrigued by this story. I found this audio book to be an easy and fairly riveting listen. I recommend.

Great read, very informative and surprising!

Kept me listening with this one that is thorough and rather shocking all the way through.

That’s a lot of meth

The actions of the famous involved through history makes much more sense after reading this. It’s fascinating and sad

Exciting, compelling, disturbing, fascinating!

Superbly written and the superb narration enhanced the writing. The ONLY part of the book I will take issue with is opening up yet another conspiracy theory touting more than one gunman for JFK's assassination. I will admit that the book does give a fascinating motivation for killing Jack Kennedy, one that I had not thought of nor have ever read in any other of the thousands of books and various accounts over the decades. I guess in some ways, the authors of this book had to address the issue given the good doctor's rare proximity and relationship to JFK, so I guess I have to forgive its conclusions. I salute the book for exposing the "good ol' days" as not at all so good. So many celebrities, so drug affected. Many might blame the doctor, forget that. Personal responsibility is something that has always plagued human beings from the dawn of time. Take some responsibility for yourself, stop blaming others and man up, cowards!! Anyway, this is a book that should not be missed by those who love the micro-history of the past.

I just can't believe it! crazy!

Quite mind blowing to know all those people were on meth! scary. so much power.

Interesting read

This was so fascinating! I am Amazed on how one man influenced the course of history.

Train Wreck--In a Good Way

As expected, this was easy to digest, shocking, well-researched information about world leaders and celebs in the sixties and seventies completely high on speed for huge chunks of history. It "read" like a documentary on the History Channel, and that's what I was in the mood for. I just wish it had been a bit more detailed and longer.