Jackie: Public, Private, Secret Hardcover – July 18, 2023

This was a fantatic read that provided much insight to the life of Jackie O, the early 1960s and JFK’s time in office, and what life was like after 1963. I knew very little about Jackie O and the Kennedy’s prior to this biography, but feel adequately informed afterwards. I would suggest adding to this book to your list for anyone who generally enjoys American History and a unique point of view that differs from your typical text book.My only issue is I felt very conflicted throughout the biography about Jackie O as a person. I understand she experienced some tragic events throughout her life, but her continued self involved and self serving attitude was off putting to me personally. And this undertone was habitually present in every stage of her life.

Well-written book -- a page turner, imo -- and I've read a lot about Jackie and the other Kennedys. What sets this book apart was discovering the rich family life Jackie had that did not involve the Kennedys -- her own family of origin, her half brother & sister, her step brother, and in particular her step father. Then there was the relationship, difficult and yet also close, with her mother. For years the focus was always on Jackie as a Kennedy wife & mother, or even as Onassis' wife and the difficulties with his children. But this develops a much fuller, deeper portrait of how involved & important her family of origin was in her life. How did we not have any sense of the roles they played in her courtship with JFK? How did we not get till now any idea of their place in her life before & right after the assassination, and in all those years afterwards when Jackie suffered from PTSD? No one is immune to the effects & influence of their family of origin and this book helps enrich any sense of who Jackie was. My only criticism is that it lacks a developed picture of Jackie as a mother; in some respects it bypasses her relationships with Caroline & John Jr. to focus on the others. This seems like a big gap missing from the whole -- that relationship between mother & children, particularly hers, could possibly fill an entire book. Despite that gap, the insightful treatment of Jackie's relationships with her family & the impact it had on her life, along with writing that keeps the reader moving right along, is worth, imo, 5 stars...

There were many things that I liked about this book...the short chapters were surprisingly refreshing, and well placed, I thought. He obviously spent a great deal of time researching this book. I don't recall too many lengthy first-hand thoughts attributed to Jackie. Seems more like so and so said Jackie thought this or said that. But she was a private person, after all. It was good to know about the relationship with Ari: the why and what. Very interesting. Sad there was so much family feuding.

I got this book as I wanted a Washington book, some old history. The book is a great character study on Jackie but also her sister and every one around her. It is insightful and deep which made me glad I purchased it, it is not a overview. I will purchase biographies from the author again! He had a Michael jackson bio, A Marilyn one and a Frank Sinatra one, he interviews and also looks at library collections of personal papers and records. Good work.

Fantastic book. My wife loved it. She has raved about it ever since reading it.

well, I did learn some new info about JBKO from this book. However I really have to question the wisdom of having your main source for the book to be JBKOs stepbrother who has been recently convicted of child pornography. It was irritating that the author got minor details wrong to me. Dr Marianne Kris LIVED and had her office in her home on CPW. She did not live on 5th avenue. She lived and worked out of this apartment for a half century. Coincidentally it was also the same building Lee Strasberg resided in. The happy birthday madison sq garden MM dress cost 1200 dollars not 12000. Ive seen the invoice in other publications. Writers routinely get this wrong. Lousy research. Ive noted in other biographies by this author that he really gets his math wrong in translating monetary figures from the 60s to current day. He also included almost zero info about Pat Lawford being one of MM s closest friends for about the last 1.5 years of her life. Seems strange since the author wrote another book about it where Pat figured heavily throughout that book. I think some of that book was highly suspect too. It painted MM as having a closer relationship with her mother from 1953 on than was reality. In fact she didnt see her at all She hated her mother and didnt want to be around her. She paid Inez Melson to handle all interaction with Gladys. Marilyn paid for the sanitarium but even those payments were handled thru Inez. Also going back to Dr Kris. Marilyn cut off all contact with her in March of 1961 after the payne whitney debacle. Marilyn didnt meet or spend any time with JFK until Feb of 62. Marilyn didnt even support JFK. She was an Adli Stevenson supporter. I highly doubt MM ever even mentioned JFK to Dr Kriss so there would have been zero conflict of interest when she began treating JBKO. Finally there was a lot of slapping going down in this book. I think somebody ought to have cold cocked Janet along the way to see how she liked it.

What a fascinating book! It shows a side of Jackie the public would never know. Her strength, the losses in her life from her miscarriages, her son and her husband in such a horrific way. She showed the world one Jackie but in person she grieved in private. The dynamic and jealousy between she and her sister. Her domineering Mother was at times physically and verbally abusive. She ruled with an iron had. Jackie's stepfather, Hugh played a major role in her life but she idolized "Black Jack" and he her. Her marriage to Ari was strictly a financial arrangement and a deal brokered by Ted Kennedy. Her genuine love for Joe Kennedy. This book will leave you knowing a side of Jackie you never could have imagined. Well written and straight forward.