Ask Not

The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

By: Maureen Callahan

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

The No1 Sunday Times Bestseller A Waterstones Best Politics Book 2024

A Mail on Sunday ‘Best Holiday Read 2024’

‘A searing exposé’ Glamour

‘A timely reminder of the dangers posed by men who crave power’ – Observer

From New York Times bestseller Maureen Callahan, a fierce, character-driven exposé of the real Kennedy Curse—the family's generations-long legacy of misogyny, murder, and mayhem—and the women who have paid the price for our obsession with Camelot.

For decades, the Kennedy name has been synonymous with wealth, power, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the Kennedy men's legacy of physical and psychological abuse of women, part of a tradition of toxic masculinity that spans generations and has ruined untold lives. Through scandal after scandal, the family and their defenders have managed to keep this shameful story out of the spotlight. Now, in Ask Not, bestselling journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys' hidden history of abuse and exploitation, laying bare their rampant misogyny and restoring women to the center of the dynasty's story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Mary Richardson, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren't nearly as well known – but rightfully should be.

Drawing on years of fierce reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled American family, showing how the Kennedy myth and their raw political power has enabled the clan's many predators while also silencing generations of traumatized women and girls. At long last, Callahan also redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys' orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves—and giving voice to the countless others who could not do the same.

(P)2024 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

‘If you're after non-fiction that reads like a propulsive political thriller, this is the book for you in July. Bestselling author and journalist Maureen Callahan returns to our shelves with a searing exposé that explores the tumultuous relationships within the Kennedy family. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Callahan unravels the complexities of this renowned family and the trails of women left behind. The book confronts the darker truths of power and privilege, offering a sobering reflection on the consequences of unchecked political influence. Ask Not is a gripping and poignant exploration of a pivotal era in American history and the individuals caught in its whirlwind.’ Glamour

‘A long history of ‘misogyny, murder and mayhem’ is revealed in this scandal-filled new book by the Mail’s own Maureen Callahan, who puts the darker underbelly of the Kennedy Clan – the closest thing America has to a royal family – on display, examining their treatment of Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette.’ – Mail on Sunday

‘A timely reminder of the dangers posed by men who crave power’ – Peter Conrad, Guardian

‘We know these stories – most of them anyway: the destruction wrought by Kennedy men. There’s JFK’s constant priapic propositioning of White House interns, his cruelty to Jackie and to Marilyn; Bobby’s sexual competition with his older brother; the hours Mary Jo Kopechne spent alive, trapped in Ted Kennedy’s car as her tiny pocket of air dwindled, while he dragged himself free and ran away; the macho bullying of Carolyn Bessette by JFK Jr that led to both their deaths. But seeing it all laid out, interconnected, makes this a grim but very compelling read.’ Irish Independent

A very solid 4.5 stars

Loved it! Very interesting. Shocking what those boys got away with...... including the graveyard of woman they left in their wake...Well done Maureen !

Ask Not

I'm a subscriber to Maureen's channel on YouTube and adore. I thought I knew everything about the Kennedy's depravity but I had no idea the depths it reached. I was disgusted by their deviancies and the disregard for others. They were brought up to hate women and it showed. RFK Jr is a total monster and should not hold any important position. I don't cry easily but I can't tell you how upsetting this was. Poor Rosemary. She was a lovely, sweet and innocent girl and far too good for these monsters. I hate what was done to her. I hate that her own mother didn't leave her father for what he'd done to her. I hope they all burn in hell.
Thank you, Maureen for telling the truth about these predators. Great writing and storytelling.

How disgusting

I don’t understand how we have held these men in such high esteem. This book needs more publicity so that the good guy image of the Kennedys ends. I was totally appalled by their behaviour. They make Trump look like a saint.