America's Reluctant Prince

The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr.

By: Steven M. Gillon

Narrated by: Tim Andrés Pabon

Length: 18 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller

A major new biography of John F. Kennedy Jr. from a leading historian who was also a close friend, America’s Reluctant Prince is a deeply researched, personal, surprising, and revealing portrait of the Kennedy heir the world lost too soon.

Through the lens of their decades-long friendship and including exclusive interviews and details from previously classified documents, noted historian and New York Times best-selling author Steven M. Gillon examines John F. Kennedy Jr.’s life and legacy from before his birth to the day he died. Gillon covers the highs, the lows, and the surprising incidents, viewpoints, and relationships that John never discussed publicly, revealing the full story behind JFK Jr.'s complicated and rich life. In the end, Gillon proves that John’s life was far more than another tragedy - rather, it’s the true key to understanding both the Kennedy legacy and how America’s first family continues to shape the world we live in today.

©2019 Steven M. Gillon (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“[Gillon] reveals a JFK Jr. more complex, more introspective, and more human than the world ever knew.” (People)

“A brisk and engaging read.... A fond and admiring adieu to a friend.” (The Boston Globe)

“This deeply researched biography from the History Channel scholar in residence flows like a novel.... Readers fascinated by the Kennedys will be delighted by this captivating biography.” (Library Journal, starred review)

Honoring a Good Friend

Gillon gives us a rare glimpse into the life of an American icon that was just as human as rest of us. JFK Jr wanted to leave his mark through genuine accomplishment rather than just being remembered for his last name and in many respects he did. Gillon doesn’t set out to paint the rosy picture of the unfulfilled dreams of the Kennedy era but by the end you can’t help but think of what could have been for this promising young man that seemed to have so much life in front him. The book does an excellent job at taking this larger than life figure and humanizing him for the audience. We get a glimpse into John’s love life, his family, his friends, and the burdens of being a Kennedy.

Thorough and Touching

I found myself listening to this book, every chance I got. I, like many Americans, was devastated when John Junior died. Hearing and learning about his life to this degree was really profound. My only criticism would be that the book jumped all over the place timewise and sometimes it was hard to follow what period of time we were in in any given moment. But I really enjoyed it overall.

Fascinating.

Anyone that is interested in JFK Jr. will find this book fascinating, well - researched and intriguing. There were aspects that felt overly wrought with unnecessary information especially the chapters focused on George. Overall, it was heartbreaking, entertaining, and an easy listen.

A touching and honest tribute

The author writes honestly about JFK Jr while the love of his friend shines through every word.
Like many people in this country and around the world, I remember where I was on the day John Kennedy’s plane went missing. Now I understand more about what that meant to his close friends, family and our country.

Why do we care?

The author expressed my most salient reasons in his Epilogue. Memory influences our every living moment.

Astounding Account of a Kind Dutiful Excellent Man

I just read that this book is/was a bestseller but I never heard of it until I happened upon it here! I certainly had a sketchy frame of what transpired in JFK’s busy life but this book included many human-interest stories of events in his packed life. For instance, he asked about a White House employee (Mrs. Lincoln) half a year after the assassination and when he spoke to her on the phone, I was SHOCKED to hear what he had to say! Likewise, on the eve of John’s speech to introduce and help elect his uncle Teddy, John arrived in Boston with 2 university pals but without a hotel reservation. Finally they located a vacant room at the Plaza but were refused a room though the 3 teens had enough cash to cover the cost: would you like to know what happened next? BUY this super book crammed full of many, many events in this extraordinary life of what turns out to have been a truly wonderful human worthy of being adulated as much as he was (though I previously always thought he was lightheaded fluff resting on his parents’ laurels. Well, NO longer do I believe that after reading this thorough book.) He had so many responsibilities to attend to and people he tried hard to please while still attempting to carve out a life which included his own needs ... and moving towards becoming his actual desired goal to “be a good man rather than a great man”. Well he certainly succeeded at that and displayed much of what was amazing in his celebrated parents. This is a terrific book brimming with fascinating information (including some of what took place during the Onassis years in Greece). Kudos to the author, Steven Gillon, well done!

Biography that reads like fiction

Biography that reads like fiction. The personal touch of such a gut wrenching life story was heartwarming and necessary.

Too short a life

John's life was much too short. He had so much to offer. Another good guy gone much too soon.

A little history, a little insight and more

I've been on a Kennedy kick, reading most books in order starting with the whole family, then the children of Joseph and Rose in age order. This one I read out of sequence because it grabbed my attention. (Here's where I should confess that I have always thought he was the most beautiful man and never really dug any deeper.)

I don't usually go for books that might fall in the tell-all category, but this seemed like an empathetic author and friend who really wanted to do justice to John's memory. Some of the stories of John's recklessness weren't new to me as his cousin Christopher Lawford had written about them in "Symptoms of Withdrawal." Other antics made me smile and laugh.

There are some pages devoted to context that I might have skipped, but overall, I enjoyed the book. I can see me listening to it again; my ultimate stamp of approval.

This has to be one of the best books filled with information that defines a generation

After reading other Kennedy historical summaries and books I have to say this one was spectacular. The way it was written firsthand as a friend could not have been better. I highly recommend this book to anybody that would like to know more in depth about the Kennedy family.