Release Date: September 24, 2013
Goodreads Page
This review describes an uncorrected proof. The published version may be different.
My dad read this book. Observe his judgment:
I was in high school during the assassination. My family were not Kennedy fans, so I didn't feel as bad as some people did, but everyone felt bad.
When I picked up this book, I was concerned that it would only be written for Kennedy fans who still dream about the "lost Camelot" of the era. On the contrary, Swanson wrote this book in a fair, objective way. He explained why a lot of people liked JFK without going overboard. I would have liked some comments on the 1960 voter fraud in Chicago, but I can't disagree with anything that Swanson included.
This book is fascinating. It walks you step-by-step through the assassination. There are lots of things you think you know, but you've never understood until Swanson explains them. The pacing is expertly done; it keeps moving crisply through all the key events of the shooting, but dives into details when something interesting is happening. Swanson chooses only the most interesting side stories about LBJ, Jackie Kennedy, the Secret Service, etc. The details were explained clearly and compellingly. For example the explanation of why Oswald shot from behind instead of from in front is meticulous and convincing.
This book doesn't waste any time on conspiracy theories. Oswald did it. He acted alone. I'm glad to see that Swanson goes after truth instead of hyping up stupid theories, but I wish he'd spent more time shooting down some of the bigger theories. I wish he'd torn apart that idiotic movie, for example. That would have been fun to read.
I recommend this book to people who like knowing how things happen. It's got politics, murder, and history wrapped together. I enjoyed it, and I learned a few new things from it.
Go find your copy at The Blue Manatee or your nearest independent bookseller!
No comments:
Post a Comment