The Kennedy Men

By: Laurence Leamer

Narrated by: Laurence Leamer

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this triumphant new work already hailed as a powerful American epic, Laurence Leamer chronicles the Kennedy men and their struggle to become the most powerful family in the United States. The Kennedy Men brings to life five bold, ambitious men. The Kennedy patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., was one of the richest, strongest men in America's history. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. was a handsome, gregarious youth who died a hero's death. John F. Kennedy picked up his brother's fallen mantle and carried it all the way to the White House. Robert F. Kennedy was an attorney general of unprecedented power. Edward M. Kennedy was a fun-loving athlete who reluctantly headed up the hard road to power.

Combining powerful dramatic narrative with impeccably researched detail, The Kennedy Men illuminates their aspirations and love of family, their accomplishments and failures, their heroism and frailty, their loves and passions, and their patriotism and selfishness. Filled with startling revelations, it is a spellbinding personal history of individuals and a journey of character through time.

Audio includes excerpts from President Kennedy's secret White House recordings of phone conversations and private meetings.

©2001 Laurence Leamer (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"Fast-paced....High heroic narrative....Leamer is well versed in the vast literature on the Kennedys." (Washington Post)

Extremely Abridged

I was trying to listen along with the ebook version but kept losing my place because of the way the audible version was edited. It seemed to have skipped over stories about black people like James Baldwin and Harry Belafonte. However, I did learn a lot about the dark side of what happened with the Vietnamese and the Cubans.

The title isn’t fitting

I just would have preferred a less JFK centered bio for the time periods included in this book. Also, there is audio of the President speaking in the last chapter which is a real gut Punch after reliving his last moments.

On a whole, disappointing

Interesting look at three of the Kennedy men, with only small glimpses of Bobby and nothing of Teddy. Very disjointed in its organization and not in much depth about anything. Good starting point if you knew nothing of the Kennedys, but totally unsatisfying if real information is what you seek.

Not one of the more favorable books

This is not one of the most interesting books at all about the Kennedy Family. The narrator is horrible. Has a hum drum voice that is a boring listen.

Author, fine, Narrator, NOT!

As the previous reviewer states, the content is interesting but this narrator is terrible. His slurring and mispronunciation of words is difficult to ignore and makes this an annoying read.

Good content; narrator needs detox

Interesting insight into the Kennedy mystique. However, the narrator needs the 12 step system.