The Kennedy Curse : Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years

See Larger Image	Find Out More Info Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin Written By: Edward Klein Average Customer Rating:
Binding: Paperback Format: Bargain Price Label: St. Martin's Griffin Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 272 Publication Date: 2004-04-17 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Studio: St. Martin's Griffin
Related Items The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings: A Five-Generation History of the Ultimate Irish-Catholic Family The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family The Kennedys: An American Drama Forever Young: My Friendship with John F. Kennedy, Jr.
Editorial Reviews: A subject of endless public attention and fascination, the Kennedy family remains the most blessed-and perhaps the most cursed-of any American family. Edward Klein, already renowned for his eye-opening and revelatory Kennedy por-traits All Too Human and Just Jackie, now delves deep into the misfortunes of the Kennedys, developing the premise that a curse has plagued them for centuries. Starting with Patrick in Ireland in 1834, Klein traces the family's mis-fortunes to the modern era, discussing both little-known and notorious subjects such as: -Joseph Kennedy's political and social machinations -John Jr.'s relationship with his fragile, troubled wife Carolyn Bessette -Jackie's anxieties about her children's problems and her almost pathological fear for their safety -The most recent theories in genetic analysis, and how the 'thrill-seeking' gene may afflict the family. In a penetrating, compulsively readable way, Klein once again offers up a fascinating analysis of this American dynasty.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Very Compeling Comment: This story is very interesting. It details the lives of some of the famous Kennedys/Fitzgeralds and tells how "the Kennedy Curse" affected them in their life. The author even has a timeline of major things that have happened to the extended familie for 150 years. The first to be aflicted with the Kennedy Curse was Patrick Kennedy in the 1850's. He was an Irishman who immigrated to the United States, married and had children, but 9 years after arriving died leaving a widow with an infant son. The next to be cronicaled is Rose Kennedy's father John "HoneyFitz" Fitzgerald. He was a polition in Boston and Massachutes before being forced to give it up when the competion found out about an affair he had with a woman the same age as his daughter. The next person cronicaled is Joe Kennedy himself. He wanted to be President of the United States of America and shortly after leaving his post as Ambassador to the Court of Saint James during World War Two he gave an interview that ended his career and his dreams. The next two people cronicaled are Joe Kennedy's children Kathleen and John. Kathleen fell in love with two Protestants during her life. The first she married but he died during the war. The second was married, but wanted a divorce. They were on there way to meet Joe in Paris when the plain that they were on crashed killing all on board. John of course was President of the United States and partily due to his lacks rules about his safty he was assassinated on November 22, 1963. The next people are JFK Jr who like his father was taken too soon and William Kennedy Smith who was on trial for rape. Customer Rating: Summary: Because Klein misses alcoholism as the root of the "curse", the diagnosis is flawed Comment: Edward Klein covered John F. Kennedy's 1960 Presidential campaign and later served as foreign editor of Newsweek and editor-in-chief of The New York Times Magazine. He has authored countless articles and several books, including two others on Kennedy family members. He's a good writer and meticulous researcher. However, despite his resume and, sadly, in concert with virtually every other biographer and historian, he reverses cause and effect. As discussed in by books, How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics: Using Behavioral Clues to Recognize Addiction in Its Early Stagesand Alcoholism Myths and Realities: Removing the Stigma of Society's most Destructive Diseasealcoholism mimics virtually all the Personality Disorders, particularly Narcissism. A diagnosis of this Disorder requires any five attributes out of a menu of nine, including "a grandiose sense of self-importance," "a belief he is `special,'" "a sense of entitlement" and an "arrogant and haughty attitude." These, as well as the other five attributes, are all classic symptoms of alcoholism or severe codependency, especially in children of alcoholics. According to studies cited in my first book, Drunks, Drugs & Debits: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse70-80% of recovering addicts with two or three months of sobriety who were diagnosed with a Personality Disorder when drinking are found to have been misdiagnosed. While most Disorders clear up or become far less of a concern after two to three years of sobriety, experience shows that what most consider normal behaviors usually don't return for five to ten years. Klein includes vignettes on a potpourri of Kennedy clan members, some alcoholics and several children of alcoholics. The manifestation of narcissism in apparent non-alcoholic members of the family, including Joe Kennedy's favorite daughter Kathleen, suggests the power of familial alcoholism. Extraordinary tolerance to alcohol makes the disease all but invisible in many, including Joseph P. Kennedy, even while numerous behavioral indications of the disease are evident (I counted two dozen such clues in the 45-page chapter on Joe, from attempts at blackmail to hyperbole and a public display in which he flouted long tradition). The fact that narcissism can be so obvious in non-alcoholics, as well as in those who defy the diagnosis, may account for the fact that alcoholism is overlooked as the most common root of the Disorder. However, the likely underlying cause becomes more apparent when we realize that a confluence of narcissists is found in families in which alcoholism is epidemic. The Kennedy Curse is billed as a "detective story". Unfortunately, Edward Klein helps to perpetuate the myth that most character flaws are inherent, when they are instead usually rooted in alcoholism. While including some interesting and telling depictions in the lives of alcoholics and their codependents in what may be America's most famous family, Klein's book fails in its most fundamental goal. Customer Rating: Summary: Not much new except for rumors, gossip and innuendo... Comment: In Edward Klein's The Kennedy Curse: Why America's First Family Has Been Haunted by Tragedy for 150 Years, there isn't much new here except for pure gossip, rumor and innuendo. Klein starts off to make this a pseudo-scientific study of facts contributing to the Kennedy curse including lots of psycho-babble, genetic factors, etc. He claims his book is a detective story. He tries to show how "the Irish immigrant experience of poverty and humiliation developed into an obsessive lust for power and dominance over others at the expense of all ethical behavior." Throw in domineering fathers, cold mothers, alcohol, drugs, sex, thrill-seeking behavior, ADHD, restlessness, boredom and impatience, and you get a prescription for tragedy. Many people believe a black cloud has followed the Kennedy family for many generations. It actually appears that the Kennedy's followed the black cloud on their own. In trying to prove his curse theory, Klein spotlights seven family members including immigrant Patrick Kennedy, Joe Kennedy, Sr., Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy, JFK, William Kennedy Smith, JFK, Jr., and JFK's maternal grandfather, John Honey Fitz Fitzgerald. He barely mentions other Kennedy's that have suffered tragedies including Bobby Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, and Joe Kennedy, Jr. It was interesting to read about the immigrant experience of the Irish, as well as some of the lesser known family members including Kathleen Kennedy and Honey Fitz. But overall, there isn't much new here, and what is new seems mostly rumor and innuendo. For instance, Klein accuses JFK of having "chronic venereal disease" and claims it is possible that this caused the death of his pre-mature son, Patrick. This is a pretty serious allegation to make without proof. He also tells how Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's friends destroyed her drug stash after that fateful plane crash. I don't believe the Kennedy's are saints and I know they've done some atrocious things, but give us hard facts. Overall, my recommendation is to skip The Kennedy Curse. If you want to read more about this fated family, there are much better and more comprehensive books to be had. It is hard to believe this book was written by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Customer Rating: Summary: Captivating..... Comment: This book is not boring... easy to read...good insight to the Kennedys... would recommend for anyone who likes real life.. Customer Rating: Summary: 2.5 stars; buyer beware Comment: While there is some merit to Edward Klein's books, they read like tabloid journalism. More importantly, there are passages which raise eyebrows, such as his alleged interview with Dave Powers. Read with a skeptical eye. Vince Palamara-JFK/ Secret Service expert (History Channel, author of two books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.) Pittsburgh, PA BEST JFK ASSASSINATION BOOK: ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BEST JFK SECRET SERVICE BOOK: SURVIVOR'S GUILT BY YOURS TRULY :) More Reviews