True Compass

A Memoir

By: Edward M. Kennedy

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 18 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

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, the late 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 was 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 listeners and to history, and a deeply moving story of a life like no other.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2009 Edward M. Kennedy (P)2009 Hachette Audio

Poor Teddy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - I think it's a good read

Would you be willing to try another book from Edward M. Kennedy? Why or why not?

Yes. He doesn't write great literature but it all seems very real and honest.

What aspect of John Bedford Lloyd???s performance would you have changed?

I thought someone with a more Bostonian accent would have told the story better.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

I admire Ted Kennedy's ability to take responsibility for all the dumb things he did.

Truly disappointing

When I write my autobiography, I'm going to pattern it after Ted Kennedy's book. My family will be honest, true, wonderful and without any faults, and I will have learned valuable lessons from every experience in life. I suppose that when the subject is Ted Kennedy, we will always feel as if he never is completely honest regarding some events; with his passing, I suppose we have to move beyond any lingering doubts. I hoped for more insight regarding Reagan, Clinton, and Bush, but again, he kept it safe. I did understand a bit more about his interest in healthcare, but overall I found the book a little too pristine.

Excellent book by Ted Kennedy

Would you consider the audio edition of True Compass to be better than the print version?

I have the book, but preferred to listen to the book.

What other book might you compare True Compass to and why?

I have quite a few Kennedy type books.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

He kept positive and moved on to the things that were important to him until the very end.

Memories of a Life Time ...

What did you love best about True Compass?

What impressed me most were the memories that came flooding back as I listened to the retelling of his life time. I couldn't help but be impressed with "the presence of the moment", as he rewound time and I began to relive so many of the times that we had shared from our different points of view. I had often wondered what he had thought ~ about this or that ~ then. Listening, the moments returned, greeted as if familiar forgotten friends, with an unexpected, "Oh yea...", tumbling from my lips. I had forgotten, I had wondered about that. The answers to those long ago questions brought mixtures of responses all the way from ~ just what I had thought - to unexpected surprises of things I never knew, things no one but he - could have known, each with still the sweetness of spending time becoming reacquainted with a long ago friend. If you are 'of an age' to remember the times that recorded his entrance on life's stage, you are likely to share some of the same experiences, regardless of your political persuasion.And regardless of when your time-line crosses his, there are things to learn ~ about being human. About surviving disasters. While being awed by an iron-will that refuses to give up hope, that persists to become a force of nature in-and-of-itself, that is a Life Fully and Well - Lived!

What other book might you compare True Compass to and why?

There must be, but I can't think of one.

Which character – as performed by John Bedford Lloyd – was your favorite?

The reading of this book ~ served as the voice of Ted Kennedy ~ well. I felt that Ted, was grateful upon hearing it in heaven.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I will listen to this book again. While it renewed the loss of his passing, it also refreshed my faith in the possibility living within the human spirit, which always seemed to me, to be the message, those happy band of brothers, strove to demonstrate, to engender and to lead.

Surprisingly Satisfying

I wasn`t planning to but bought this book based on an earlier review in Audio. What I found satisfying was Kennedy`s focus on family and faith in dealing with grief and loss. This reoccuring theme can`t help but resonate with any reader`s issues as well as the question of the afterlife - Kennedy convincingly affirms his belief in eternal life and this was very reassuring and surprisingly moving. Whatever our views about him personally and/or as a politician/public figure - thought the book did a good job in hitting some of messy parts about being human and imperfection. His interactions with his siblings and parents and the family culture with regard to what is open for discussion what isn`t aren`t particularly unique but insightful and can cause reflection in readers. In a weird way it makes the reader more forgiving of the failings of others. I enjoyed the book and others who are NOT looking for gossip and scandal will too. Lastly Kennedy`s frequent focus on sailing struck a chord with regard to how important it is to have a place to go so to speak when things get tough - a good reminder to all.

An interesting but skewed read

An interesting historical read. Starting from the late 30's to just this last Spring. Kennedy covers events from WWII to the Presidential elections of 1960, 1968, Chappaquiddick, 1972, 1976, Carter, 1980, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004. A good insight. My only cautionary comment is that the book is exactly what it is, it is a story as told by Kennedy himself, it is quite skewed (as expected) to his view on things.

Overall an interesting read.

Good read

It gives you insight into the Kennedy family and why there was such a drive for success. A very good, easy read.

tales from recent history

If you are looking for Kennedy gossip, this is not the book for you. Senator Kennedy avoided the tabloid territory and explored history he witnessed. I recommend this book for those interested in recent history from an insider's view. He gives good insight into the running of political campaigns and how the senate works.

Not just for Kennedy fans

Would you consider the audio edition of True Compass to be better than the print version?

NA

What was one of the most memorable moments of True Compass?

A story he tells about his father challenging him to consider (at the age of 13 or so) whether he would live "a serious life or a non-serious life." He chose the former and never looked back. Would that people of that age (and older) receive a similar challenge today, instead of devoting themselves to sports & video games and other entertainments.

What about John Bedford Lloyd’s performance did you like?

At first it was a bit startling NOT to hear a "Kennedy-style" accent, as I can hardly think of the Kennedy's without it, but other than that, he did a fine job capturing the numerous voices and characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It made me want to hurry back to it, although I'm not sure I'd want to listen to 19 hrs of anything in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I had wanted to listen to this because I grew up Irish Catholic in Massachusetts and the Kennedy name has always held such power. I was especially taken with Kennedy's early life -- as he gave a "little boy's eye view" of some of the major events of the 20th century: writing to his father who was in London during the bombing, his relationships with his brothers, receiving his first communion from Pope Pius XII. Quite remarkable. While Kennedy no doubt provides a politician's "positive spin" on many things, he does come off as a man who really did care about his constituents and wanted to do what was right, at least as he interpreted it. He was a "little brother" who found himself the patriarch and sought to rise the that unexpected occasion. A fascinating read.

informative

I have only heard Part 1, and I am having difficuly downloading Parts 2 and 3. Part 1 was especially interesting in casting light on the entire Kennedy family.