True Compass Audiobook By Edward M. Kennedy cover art

True Compass

A Memoir

 Preview
Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

True Compass

By: Edward M. Kennedy
Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $35.09

Buy for $35.09

In this landmark autobiography, five years in the making, Senator Edward M. Kennedy tells his extraordinary personal story -- of his legendary family, politics, and fifty years at the center of national events.

The youngest of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, he came of age among siblings from whom much was expected. As a young man, he played a key role in the presidential campaign of his brother John F. Kennedy, recounted here in loving detail. In 1962 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he began a fascinating political education and became a legislator.

In this historic memoir, Ted Kennedy takes us inside his family, re-creating life with his parents and brothers and explaining their profound impact on him. For the first time, he describes his heartbreak and years of struggle in the wake of their deaths. Through it all, he describes his work in the Senate on the major issues of our time -- civil rights, Vietnam, Watergate, the quest for peace in Northern Ireland -- and the cause of his life: improved health care for all Americans, a fight influenced by his own experiences in hospitals.

His life has been marked by tragedy and perseverance, a love of family, and an abiding faith. There have been controversies, too, and Kennedy addresses them with unprecedented candor. At midlife, embattled and uncertain if he would ever fall in love again, he met the woman who changed his life, Victoria Reggie Kennedy. Facing a tough reelection campaign against an aggressive challenger named Mitt Romney, Kennedy found a new voice and began one of the great third acts in American politics, sponsoring major legislation, standing up for liberal principles, and making the pivotal endorsement of Barack Obama for president.

Hundreds of books have been written about the Kennedys. True Compass will endure as the definitive account from a member of America's most heralded family, an inspiring legacy to readers and to history, and a deeply moving story of a life like no other.©2009 Edward M. Kennedy; (P)2009 Hachette Audio Biographies & Memoirs Politicians Politics & Activism Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"In bringing Kennedy's sweeping memoir to life, John Bedford Lloyd conveys an intimacy and sincerity that allows for reverence without idolatry...Bonus features include a video interview, largely a summary of the book's contents, though still priceless from the standpoint of historical posterity. The PDF of photographs offers a rather impressive visual resource spanning the time period of Kennedy's narrative."—Publishers Weekly
Compelling Historical Perspective • Intimate Family Insights • Wonderful Narrator • Honest Personal Reflections

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
Starts off really good, but loses steam. The first section of the book sounds a lot like your grandfather telling you stories of his life that carry lifelong lessons.

Much of the rest of the book is about his political career. While I understand that he was a politician and thus politics played a large role in his life, it read more like an encyclopedic recounting of his career and lacked much of the insight to his inner struggles and family life that I was expecting to find.

Also, the latter chapters of the book suffer because he rushed to complete the book as his health declined, so everything from 1998 onward is set in a rough sketch (he covered the death of 4 important people, including Jackie O, in about 3 pages). All in all, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars but would still give it a spot on my "recommended" list.

Starts off good, but loses steam.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was brought up with a Mother who was a Democrat and had respect for the Kennedys, which she passed down to me. I had met Ted Kennedy at Beverly City Hall in the 70's. I am so happy I decided to read this story. It was enlightening and humble and truthful. Senator Kennedy did a wonderful job and I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to know what true Servant to the people means.

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You get a true understanding of the wealth in which Kennedy was born which helps one to understand why he feels the upper 1/3 needs to provide for the lower 2/3's. The book gives you an understanding of how hard he worked for national health insurance and why, and how sad for him that he did not see it achieved, but probably better for the country. I can only say there must be a good reason that in his lifetime he could not obtain a national health insurance program. I am glad I read the book and think everyone, regardless of political persuasion will find it interesting.

Passionate politician

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was a great insite into the Kennedy family. I enjoyed this book. I believe that he speaks from the heart about very personal family things. I was surprised that he speaks to the car incident out on the Cape. I felt that he was being very true ...different hearing about it from him than what was in the news. I believe that this is a wonderful read. Hope that all will enjoy as much as I have.

Truly enjoyed!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An illuminating look at the last fifty years of our history.
Not as insightful as it might be.
Not great literature.

An illuminating glimpse at our history

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews