Rating: 
Summary: Newly Initiated Kennedy Follower
Review: Although I have not in the past been what you'd call a huge Kennedy follower, I found this multi-generational family saga a fascinating journey into the complex dynamics of an incredibly influential family and the pressures and rewards of being a Kennedy male. Like all great biographies, it takes us into the heart of the issues of an era (or in this case several eras) through a more refined lens than the history books.
Rating:
Summary: Another grand slam from Laurence Leamer
Review: I don't see how anyone can read The Kennedy Men and ever see the Kennedy family the same way again. It may read like a novel, but this is serious history, written by a masterful storyteller. Here, finally, is the Kennedy story in all its richness, drama, and nuance.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad
Review: I give this book a borderline 3 - 4 stars. It isn't bad - it explored all of the Kennedy men adequately but none very extensively. Leamer does do a great job of explaining the relationships among the Kennedy men, especially the complicated relationship that Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. had with all of his children. The author offers up stunning and excruciating details about Joe Kennedy Jr's. death, as well as Kathleen's death. These instances were painful to read, but very insightful about the patriarch's emotions. I feel Leamer did concentrate a bit too much on JFK's sexual trysts, but that is a topic that no book on the Kennedys will neglect, so it's not really a complaint. It would have been nice had the book ended in 1968 and not 1963. Another 100 pages would have given the reader much more great reading on RFK following the president's death and also his run for the presidency in 1968. All in all, this is a good book for diehard Kennedy aficionados.
Rating:
Summary: Another piece of great history from Larry Leamer
Review: I never thought that Leamer could top what he did in his last books (a look at the Kennedy women, an insider view of Nashville and country music), but in The Kennedy Men Leamer has done the impossible. This is a thoughtful, provocative and (I found) searing narrative of the men of this powerful American family. Leamer brings a certain intensity to his writing, so that (in the midst of reading his powerful prose) it is actually possible to feel his connection with his subject. Not many writers -- or historians -- can do that. This is, by my count, book number eight for Leamer, and they just keep getting better. This is real history, riveting and informative at the same time. In my book, Leamer is perhaps our most honest, and best, modern narrative historian -- he certainly has few challengers. It is time to give him his due.
Rating:
Summary: Another piece of great history from Larry Leamer
Review: I never thought that Leamer could top what he did in his last books (a look at the Kennedy women, an insider view of Nashville and country music), but in The Kennedy Men Leamer has done the impossible. This is a thoughtful, provocative and (I found) searing narrative of the men of this powerful American family. Leamer brings a certain intensity to his writing, so that (in the midst of reading his powerful prose) it is actually possible to feel his connection with his subject. Not many writers -- or historians -- can do that. This is, by my count, book number eight for Leamer, and they just keep getting better. This is real history, riveting and informative at the same time. In my book, Leamer is perhaps our most honest, and best, modern narrative historian -- he certainly has few challengers. It is time to give him his due.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative, appraochable style
Review: I read The Kennedy Women a few years ago and found it to be one of the most impressive biographical works that I had ever encountered. I was most impressed with Leamer's ability to fully chart the lives of so many diverdse characters. I eagerly awaited the Kennedy Men. If I had not read his previous work, this probably would have seemed better. I felt that the Kennedy Women had a broader scope dealing with a longer (and earlier!) time frame and more individuals. This started, really with Joe Kennedy and didn't focus on too many others. A very minor complaint, is that the Kennedy women had a comrehensive time line in the beginning. It would have been useful to include one here as well. Otherwise, this is an extaordinarily well rearched volume. What I enjoyed most was the conversational approach taken by Leamer. It is a pleasure to read. I wish that the final chapter "Requiem for a President" was slightly more detailed, but this was a chance to learn not about invididuals, but about complex family relationships and bonds. I am glad that I read it and look forward to volume 2!
Rating:
Summary: Informative, appraochable style
Review: I read The Kennedy Women a few years ago and found it to be one of the most impressive biographical works that I had ever encountered. I was most impressed with Leamer's ability to fully chart the lives of so many diverdse characters. I eagerly awaited the Kennedy Men. If I had not read his previous work, this probably would have seemed better. I felt that the Kennedy Women had a broader scope dealing with a longer (and earlier!) time frame and more individuals. This started, really with Joe Kennedy and didn't focus on too many others. A very minor complaint, is that the Kennedy women had a comrehensive time line in the beginning. It would have been useful to include one here as well. Otherwise, this is an extaordinarily well rearched volume. What I enjoyed most was the conversational approach taken by Leamer. It is a pleasure to read. I wish that the final chapter "Requiem for a President" was slightly more detailed, but this was a chance to learn not about invididuals, but about complex family relationships and bonds. I am glad that I read it and look forward to volume 2!
Rating: 
Summary: not very good
Review: I've read 64 biographys and it's one of the worse.
There are a few photos.
some informations are odd, because the author invents them.
buy not this book, but buy better book like a common good, the thirteen days, the kennedys and the fitzgerald, robert kennedy and his time...
Rating:
Summary: The Kennedy Men...Both of them.
Review: If you want to read about Jack Kennedy and his dad, with a little more information about Joe Jr., then this is a book for you. Mr. Leamer never delivers the promise his title suggests. This is not to say the book fails to be interesting, but it paints a rather incomplete picture of the Kennedy history. He spends a great deal of time on Joe Sr, and goes through a fairly deep analysis of the relationship between Joe Jr. and John, but we se only fleeting glimpses of Ted as he runs for senate. We only see detail on Bobby when he becomes his brothers AG. We never see the depth of information on Bobby, who played such a significant part in JFK's life. The book also fails to give a complete picture of any of the men by failing to explaing the relationship that occurred with Rose. We are shown that she tolerated her husband's indiscretions, but we see hardly any interplay with her sons at all. Any decent psychologist will tell you that you can't understand a man without understanding his relationship with his mother. We never see it at all. Although I found the information delivered to be interesting, I also found it to be quite one-sided, as though it had been written by a strong fan. It gave a good amount of information into the events the Kennedy men lived (and died) through, yet left out much of the day to day information that would have filled out the image. Bottom line; interesting read, but not a detailed analysis...not by a long shot.
Rating:
Summary: The Kennedy Men...Both of them.
Review: If you want to read about Jack Kennedy and his dad, with a little more information about Joe Jr., then this is a book for you. Mr. Leamer never delivers the promise his title suggests. This is not to say the book fails to be interesting, but it paints a rather incomplete picture of the Kennedy history. He spends a great deal of time on Joe Sr, and goes through a fairly deep analysis of the relationship between Joe Jr. and John, but we se only fleeting glimpses of Ted as he runs for senate. We only see detail on Bobby when he becomes his brothers AG. We never see the depth of information on Bobby, who played such a significant part in JFK's life. The book also fails to give a complete picture of any of the men by failing to explaing the relationship that occurred with Rose. We are shown that she tolerated her husband's indiscretions, but we see hardly any interplay with her sons at all. Any decent psychologist will tell you that you can't understand a man without understanding his relationship with his mother. We never see it at all. Although I found the information delivered to be interesting, I also found it to be quite one-sided, as though it had been written by a strong fan. It gave a good amount of information into the events the Kennedy men lived (and died) through, yet left out much of the day to day information that would have filled out the image. Bottom line; interesting read, but not a detailed analysis...not by a long shot.
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