Ask Not

The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

By: Maureen Callahan

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

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.

The Kennedy name has long been synonymous with wealth, power, glamor, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the pattern of Kennedy men physically and psychologically abusing women and girls, leaving a trail of ruin and death in each generation’s wake. Through decades of scandal after scandal—from sexual assaults to reputational slander, suicides to manslaughter—the family and their defenders have kept the Kennedy brand intact. Now, in Ask Not, bestselling author and journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys’ hidden history of violence and exploitation, laying bare their unrepentant sexism and rampant depravity while also restoring these women and girls to their rightful place at the center of the dynasty’s story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Martha Moxley, Mary Jo Kopechne, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren’t nearly as well known but should be.

Drawing on years of explosive reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled family and a consequential part of American history that is still very much with us. At long last, Callahan redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys’ orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves and giving voice to those who, through no fault of their own, could not.

©2024 Maureen Callahan (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

"Bold, brave and original, Ask Not takes a sledgehammer to the myth of Camelot. This is an unforgettable book—a necessary reckoning that will forever change the way I view modern American history." —Susannah Cahalan, author of The Great Pretender and the #1 New York Times bestseller Brain on Fire

“A harrowing, incendiary swirl of tragedy, true crime, and reconsidered history, Ask Not sets a match to the glamour and mystique of America’s most famous family. With incisive wit and wisdom, Callahan exposes the individuals and the celebrity culture that aided and abetted so many Kennedy men.” —Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of The Ghosts of Eden Park and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

Amazing

I had no idea, This recounting of the horrific actions by this family of despicable men is a chilling reminder how traditional media is able to distill and distort truth according to the powerful.

Well written, well researched, well done.

Mary Richardson Kennedy

It is about time that the truth comes out! Thanks to the author for being so brave.

Absolutely Fascinating

As a history buff/teacher and woman I found myself spellbound listening to these disturbing accounts of abuse by the Kennedy men. I don’t doubt their truth; much of what I’ve read about the Kennedy men has suggested these abuses. But seeing/hearing it compiled in one place packs quite a punch. It’s beyond disturbing what this family has gotten away with throughout the years. All men, especially those in power, need to be held accountable for their actions. Period.

Tragic and Disturbing.

Well written and narrated. Certain things told as facts may not ring true. Though the infidelity and abuse I question not.

Well written and chronicled

Excellent narration of a story we know all too well. There were interesting incidents that I had never read before. Otherwise, it was the same old Kennedy stuff but told with more insight and style

Well done!

Well Researched & Written

Excellent, well written & researched, I will look for more books by author. I throughly enjoyed the revelations & attention to detail. A deeper look into the lives & deaths of so many women that were in the orbit of this family’s orbit. Narrative performance was perfect fit for author work.

Excellent

This was so interesting, And I learned so much about the Kennedys. Gabra Zackman has a beautiful voice and she is a great storyteller. Maureen Callahan keeps your intrest throughout the entire book.

Incredibly sad

I thought the authors facts were entirely believable and I think this is an important story for people to know. The Kennedy family has so long been celebrated and lionized, undeservedly so. The thorrible treatment of their mistresses, wives, girlfriends and female staff by the Kennedy men should be held up to scrutiny and finally see the light of day. Well done!

An Eye Opener

As the old saying goes, “Truth is stranger than fiction”, and much of this book is almost unbelievable. The lives of these women who loved the Kennedy men were tragic. It’s a hard book to put down!

Great historic read

The author did a fantastic job on her research of this family. Book was captivating and revealing; I couldn’t stop listening.