The Kennedy Curse

Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years

By: Edward Klein

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Death was merciful to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for it spared her a parent's worst nightmare: the loss of a child. But if Jackie had lived to see her son, JFK Jr., perish in a plane crash on his way to his cousin's wedding, she would have been doubly horrified by the familiar pattern in the tragedy. Once again, on a day that should have been full of joy and celebration, America's first family was struck by the Kennedy Curse.

In this probing expose, renowned Kennedy biographer Edward Klein - a best-selling author and journalist personally acquainted with many members of the Kennedy family - unravels one of the great mysteries of our time and explains why the Kennedys have been subjected to such a mind-boggling chain of calamities. Drawing upon scores of interviews with people who have never spoken out before, troves of private documents, archives in Ireland and America, and private conversations with Jackie, Klein explores the underlying pattern that governs the Kennedy Curse. The listener is treated to seven profiles demonstrating the basic premise of this book: The Kennedy Curse is the result of the destructive collision between the Kennedy's fantasy of omnipotence - an unremitting desire to get away with things that others cannot - and the cold, hard realities of life.

©2003 Edward Klein (P)2018 Tantor

An Apt Title for a Dysfunctional Family

This was an interesting book about the Kennedy's and the tragedies that have befallen their family. Giving insight into their Irish background and how events shaped them for better and more often for worse, it is difficult not to come to the conclusion that tragedy befalls this family so much. As the book states, 9 lives of the family were lost in this century alone. So many admired and wanted to be them, but in fact it was a highly dysfunctional family. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book. Paul Boemer ably described the text. A hard to put down read.

Heartbreaking Family Biography

This is a well-written and documented account. History reveals the truth of what happens when power is pursued through oppression and with abandon. We aren't allowed to abuse other people without suffering the consequences. Slavery takes on many forms and slavemasters always pay a high price for their sins.

Not what I was expecting

It was a struggle at times. Some parts were interesting. I am glad it ended.

Enlightening, Well Told

I had already read the book which I generally prefer, but I loved the audio version every bit as much.

Sadness of the losses

Losing JFK jr was the worst part. The treatment of Kick by her mother and father was horrible. And Joe Kennedy, the old man thought he can control the world. So very sad. A good audible book.

A dull read

I was very excited to read this book.

However my excitement was soon exchanged for boredom. The author is all over the place with lots and lots of Kennedy names actually so many different names gets mentioned it makes it hard following along.

Furthermore the book is extremely dull. I gave this book a chance but sadly it was not possible for me to do a cover to cover read (listening) to this book.

The author is hell bent on portraying the Kennedy “clan” as a bunch of narcissists. I’m not interested in the authors armchair psychological analysis. The book is biased due to his dislike of the Kennedy family.

*This review has been published on multiple platforms.

Garbage

This author is a fascist right wing hack. This is a compilation of a bunch of red state.org anti-Kennedy propaganda. Don’t waste your time