An Unfinished Life

John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963

By: Robert Dallek

Narrated by: Richard McGonagle

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

An Unfinished Life describes the birth of the Kennedy dynasty, the complexity of Jack's early years, and the mixture of adulation and resentment that tangled his relationships with his mother, Rose, and his father, Joseph. Forced into the shadow of his older brother, Joe, Jack struggled to find a place for himself until World War II, when he became a national hero and launched his career. Dallek reveals for the first time the full story of Kennedy's wartime actions and the true details of how Joe was killed, opening the door to Jack's ascendancy.

Here is the gripping story of Jack's transformation from an awkward speaker into a brilliant politician with irresistible charm. The audiobook carries us from Jack's work as a senator from Massachusetts, through the fiercely contested 1960 campaign against Nixon, and takes us on to the White House itself.

An Unfinished Life also discloses for the very first time that Kennedy was far sicker than we ever knew. While laboring to present an image of robust good health, Kennedy was secretly in and out of hospitals through-out his life, so ill that he was administered last rites on several different occasions. Here is a vivid portrait of a man who, because he knew how close he was to death, lived as much as he could - sometimes hurting others in the process.

Never shying away from Kennedy's weaknesses, Dallek also brilliantly explores his strengths. The result is a portrait of a bold, brave, human Kennedy, once again a hero.

©2003 Robert Dallek (P)2003 Time Warner AudioBooks. A division of the AOL Time Warner Book Group.

Critic reviews

"Sets the historical record straight...pitch-perfect prose...hands-down the best biography of JFK...a truly remarkable achievement." (Douglas Brinkley, author of The Unfinished Presidency)
"In this riveting tour de force...Dallek delivers what will most assuredly become the benchmark JFK biography for this generation...[He] is to be thanked for providing this thoroughly researched, well-sourced, responsible and readable biography that has for so long been wanting in Kennedy scholarship." (Publishers Weekly)
"...riveting and well-documented biography." (New Yorker)
"Richard McGonagle brings the president to life, mimicking the famous accents so well that his renditions of Kennedy speeches compare favorably to Kennedy's own renderings." (AudioFile)

Good on facts but not substance

I enjoyed the book. This is a great gateway book for people looking to understand the Kennedy basics. If you want more background on certain aspects of his life, this book can guide you in that direction.

In depth view of Kennedy but jumps around

There was a lot of great background information but it would jump around towards the end of the book.

A Great Biography - Neccessarily Disappointing

Any biography of JFK is bound to be unsatisfying for the reason that is the title of this great biography, <U>An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963</U>. The abrupt nature of JFK's assassination in 1963 makes the hope and promise of his administration so much more frustrating for its loss.

Dallek provides an exhaustive, if fleeting in the abridgement, review of Kennedy's life, from the family dynamics that preceded his birth to the day he died. He reaffirms all of Kennedy's failings and celebrates is triumphs.

Narration provided by Richard McGonagle is very good, who when speaking lines by Kennedy, does so with the distinctive Massachusetts accent. This was actually annoying to me at first but I must say, grew on me to where I came to expect it as the book went on.

I would very much like the opportunity to hear the unabridged version of this book but doubt if it would provide any more answers to the unanswered questions of why?

Dallek deliberately avoids, to his credit but to my disappointment, any speculation about conspiracy theories with regard to Kennedy's death.

Most amazing to me about this book were the revelations about Kennedy's unbelieveable medical problems and the lengths he and those around him went to conceal them and treat them.

I highly recommend this book. Kennedy, whether you believe he was a great president or not, was a peacemaker and filled the world with hope for better days.

Abridged?

In my opinion, this is a good biography of JFK, but not a great one. This is the first major biography of JFK in thirty years. Dallek had complete access to the Kennedy family documents. There is nothing new in the book, except information about an affair with a White House intern.

The book is well written and researched. The book appears to be unbiased. Dallek does mention JFK’s “Womanizing”. But most of the book is on his political career. About half the book is about the presidency. Dallek provides information on his medical conditions. There is very little information about Jackie, the children or his siblings.

The book makes a good review of JFK. I remember his presidency as if it was yesterday. My how time flies!

The book is nine hours and fifteen minutes. Richard McGonagle does a good job narrating the book. McGonagle is an actor, voice actor and well-known audiobook narrator particularly of presidential biographies.

nice but incomplete

an abridged version doe snto really make sense to discover the life of JFK. We hear so much about is health, but little about his US policies.
Good for those just wishing to discover the man quickly.

Kennedy Demythologized!

What made the experience of listening to An Unfinished Life the most enjoyable?

This biography does not contain any strong bias towards, or away from, the Kennedy mystique. Instead, Dallek writes the facts and lets the reader determine the level of appreciation, or non-appreciation, they have for JFK. The author also uses the most up-to-date information on the life of Kennedy and weaves it seamlessly into the existing facts. A wonderful book.

What other book might you compare An Unfinished Life to and why?

I draw a comparison to the book, "Eisenhower: In War and Peace" by Jean Edward Smith. Both books provide a wonderful narrative of the President from youth until death. Doing so without ever straying far from facts and balanced perspective. Both books are also highly enjoyable to listen (read) to - outstanding narration. Also, the books hold the readers interest in all facets of the Presidents' lives.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Kennedy: Perseverance and Pain. ... I cannot believe that with all his health issues that Kennedy was able to preside over the nation in an effective manner.

Great story

A fantastic, in depth and well written story about a truly great man. An American Patriot.

An unfinished book

This book summarizes the main points of JFK’s life as it is in abridged version. It was unsuccessful in giving the reader the full and necessary experience of the unabridged book.

Excellent - objective

Brings honor to a great person without glossing over his few shortcomings.

Highly recommended.

Very educational.

Missing half the book!!!

I like to follow along in the hard copy of a book while listening to the audible version. The audible version for “An Unfinished Life” is missing half of the book. It literally skips multiple sentences and even multiple paragraphs at a time. I pushed several time to read what was missing. It is key parts of the book. Terrible!