American Son : A Portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing Surprising
Review: Not a lengthy work, but the author did not have a long history with the subject, nor was it a deep personal relationship. He produces little new insight to Mr Kennedy. Most of the material might have been taken from other long publsihed works, as well as supposition and innuendo. This is NOT a definitive work on a life lived in the public eye.

Rating:
Summary: This is a story about Richard Blow, not John F. Kennedy, Jr.
Review: I am an avid biography and autobiography reader. I have read every book written on the Kennedy family. No wonder they are up in arms about the book. This book is about Blow and his experiences at George magazine. This is not a story about Mr. Kennedy. He simply used his name to sell a book because we are still so in awe of the only thing we as Americans know as "royalty". All of the mentions of Carolyn seem as if they were taken from the already well known published information in magazines. All of the examples of her except for one were instances that were well documented publically. Personally, I think someone in the Kennedy family should sue him.

Rating:
Summary: Positve portrait
Review: I enjoyed this portrayal of JFK jr. I felt that it was done in a positive and admiring light. If you are looking for lots of dishy comments and gossip you won't find it in this book.

Rating:
Summary: . . . Memories Better Left Unspoken . . .
Review: and the ultimate betrayal of a supposed short-lived "friendship." So terribly sad and disheartening.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful Not Gossipy
Review: This book is actually a very interesting and thoughtful take on the birth and evolution of George Magazine. While it does give some insights into John Kennedy's character, dreams and aspirations, it should not be dismissed as People Magazine fluff. The author genuinely liked and respected John and it shows. It is unfortunate that media critics have been so hard on Mr. Blow. The book is easy to read, informative and, at times, entertaining. While it isn't a great historial bio or a "Profiles In Courage," the book truly honors its' subject.

Rating:
Summary: A good read about a young man.
Review: ...it is a sweet story of a young man from a famous family who died too young.
...This is not John Adams it is just John Kennedy, Jr. ... It is just a story about a man and a magazine and an untimely death.

Rating:
Summary: Blow's Autobiography
Review: Blow should have titled this book " Enough About You, Let's Talk About Me". Instead of an intimate protrait of JFK, Jr. this book appears to merely be an opportunity for the author to capitalize on his business association with a famous person. Unless you are interested in how a magazine begins, this book is a dud. There are other books about JFK, Jr. that are written better and have more depth than this one, (The Day John Died, for example). I was greatly disappointed with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately Incomplete
Review: I'm guess I'm not too surprised that this newest biographer sidesteps the same question the others have avoided: the fact that John-John was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But just one espisode suggests that Democratic Party icon JFK, Jr. was the worst sort of dumb rich kid enjoying the perks of power. He admitted to (hyper-liberal) NYU Law despite having LSAT scores and undergrad grades that probably would not have gotten him admitted to a third-tier law school. The admissions committee refused to admit him, but an extraordinary vote of the (liberal)faculty did admit him, seemingly swayed by visions of Kennedy fame and money. His performance as a law student seems to reflect his complete lack of any intellectual capacity. But like IU law grad Dan Quayle, he benefited from privilege in ways that most people would view asd egregiously wrong if they weren't so blinded by the fame or power of the recipient. It might be hard to write a serious biography of a guy who actually never did much besides date some movie actresses, but if one were to write such a tome, I'd think an examination of the evidence of Kennedy's astounding dumbness would be a more central concern.

Rating:
Summary: A Life Lived
Review: Richard Blow has done an excellent job of revealing his friendship and working relationship with John Kennedy, Jr. In the book he reveals the 'behind the scenes' working of 'George' magazine. I believe that Mr. Blow has gotten alot of undue criticism for writing this book. I don't feel this is disloyal or taking advantage of a private relationship. The book is a tribute to a great man, that Mr. Blow obviously respected and greatly admired. I think John would have approved.

Rating:
Summary: OK OK OK
Review: I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS GOING TO BE BORING AND ONLY TOUCH A SMALL PART OF JFK JRS., LIFE... WRONG IT WAS NOT BORING AND IT LET YOU SEE MORE OF JFK JR., THAN YOU HAVE EVER SEEN OR READ BEFORE...YES IT WILL BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES AND YES YOU WILL LEARN THAT WE LOST A MAN WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT SOME DAY.. BUT IN SPITE OF IT ALL WE KNOW HE IS WITH HIS MOTHER AND FATHER AND THAT THE LIFE HE LEAD,THE SHORT YEARS HE WAS HERE, WERE THE BEST THAT ANYONE COULD EXPECT...I AM SORRY YOU ARE GONE BUT I KNOW YOU ARE WITH YOUR PARENTS NOW SO I CAN EASE MY PAIN KNOWING THAT...ENJOY THE BOOK, SMILE AND CRY AND BE PROUD THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE MAN A LITTLE BETTER THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU DID AND THE MORE YOU KNOW HIM THE MORE YOU KNOW WHAT A GREAT MAN HE WAS AND HOW SAD IT IS THAT WE LOST HIM....