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JFK: Public, Private, Secret
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF AMAZON'S BEST HISTORY BOOKS OF 2025
From the New York Times bestselling Kennedy historian and author of Public, Private, Secret comes the other side of the story—her husband’ Public, Private, Secret.
In this definitive portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy—one of America’s most consequential and enigmatic presidents—J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a deeply researched and authoritative biography. More than the story of a presidency, this is an intimate study of a man whose public triumphs were shaped—and at times overshadowed—by the complex realities of his private life, from his legendary family to his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy.
Drawing from hundreds of interviews conducted over twenty-five years, as well as candid, first-hand oral histories from the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library, rare internal reports from the Secret Service, detailed files from the National Archives, and intelligence documents from both the CIA and FBI, this is JFK as never before captured by brilliant yet fallible, revered yet human—a figure whose legacy continues to shape America and the world.
Groundbreaking revelations
• A marriage defined by both devotion and distance—Jackie’s quiet but firm rules regarding her husband’s "Show me some respect and don't you dare rub it in my face."
• The romance that posed a potential national security risk—JFK’s deep connection with Inga Arvad, a woman he considered his great love, brought to an abrupt end due to FBI concerns over her ties to Nazi intelligence.
• The long-awaited truth about Marilyn Monroe—uncovered at last through the firsthand account of one of her closest confidantes, shattering decades of speculation and exposing the reality of her deeply complicated connection to JFK.
• The woman who might have changed history—Joan Lundberg, the mistress JFK turned to during the darkest time in his marriage, whose clandestine relationship with him threatened to derail his entire political career.
• The Mafia’s role in his rise to power—a definitive account that separates fact from fiction and lays bare the extent of organized crime’s involvement in JFK’s election.
• A presidency tested by betrayal and crisis—why JFK felt undermined by his own cabinet during the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and how he ultimately seized control of his administration during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The JFK presented in Taraborrelli’s definitive biography is a complex and endlessly fascinating historical figure—despite, and perhaps even because of, his many flaws.
ONE OF AMAZON'S BEST HISTORY BOOKS OF 2025
From the New York Times bestselling Kennedy historian and author of Public, Private, Secret comes the other side of the story—her husband’ Public, Private, Secret.
In this definitive portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy—one of America’s most consequential and enigmatic presidents—J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a deeply researched and authoritative biography. More than the story of a presidency, this is an intimate study of a man whose public triumphs were shaped—and at times overshadowed—by the complex realities of his private life, from his legendary family to his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy.
Drawing from hundreds of interviews conducted over twenty-five years, as well as candid, first-hand oral histories from the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library, rare internal reports from the Secret Service, detailed files from the National Archives, and intelligence documents from both the CIA and FBI, this is JFK as never before captured by brilliant yet fallible, revered yet human—a figure whose legacy continues to shape America and the world.
Groundbreaking revelations
• A marriage defined by both devotion and distance—Jackie’s quiet but firm rules regarding her husband’s "Show me some respect and don't you dare rub it in my face."
• The romance that posed a potential national security risk—JFK’s deep connection with Inga Arvad, a woman he considered his great love, brought to an abrupt end due to FBI concerns over her ties to Nazi intelligence.
• The long-awaited truth about Marilyn Monroe—uncovered at last through the firsthand account of one of her closest confidantes, shattering decades of speculation and exposing the reality of her deeply complicated connection to JFK.
• The woman who might have changed history—Joan Lundberg, the mistress JFK turned to during the darkest time in his marriage, whose clandestine relationship with him threatened to derail his entire political career.
• The Mafia’s role in his rise to power—a definitive account that separates fact from fiction and lays bare the extent of organized crime’s involvement in JFK’s election.
• A presidency tested by betrayal and crisis—why JFK felt undermined by his own cabinet during the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and how he ultimately seized control of his administration during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The JFK presented in Taraborrelli’s definitive biography is a complex and endlessly fascinating historical figure—despite, and perhaps even because of, his many flaws.
537 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2025
540 people are currently reading
10785 people want to read
About the author
J. Randy Taraborrelli
25 books488 followersJ. Randy Taraborrelli is an author known for biographies of contemporary entertainers and political figures. He is a featured writer in several entertainment magazines in Canada, England, and Australia. He also appears on television as an entertainment news reporter on shows such as Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, Today and CBS This Morning. Taraborrelli resides in Los Angeles, California.
Taraborrelli, who has written eighteen books (including updated and expanded editions), has had fourteen of them appear on the New York Times best seller list, the most recent of which was 2014's The Hiltons - The True Story of an American Dynasty. His first best seller was Call Her Miss Ross in 1989. His 2009 biography of Marilyn Monroe - The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe - made a re-appearance on the e-books best-seller list at number two in the summer of 2012.
In November of 2012, it was announced that Reelz cable channel had optioned Taraborrelli's New York Times best-selling book, After Camelot, as a miniseries. It will be his second television miniseries, the first airing on NBC in 2000 and based on his book, Jackie, Ethel, Joan.
Through his newly formed J. Randy Taraborrelli Productions, Taraborrelli is currently developing and producing a number of television projects.
Taraborrelli, who has written eighteen books (including updated and expanded editions), has had fourteen of them appear on the New York Times best seller list, the most recent of which was 2014's The Hiltons - The True Story of an American Dynasty. His first best seller was Call Her Miss Ross in 1989. His 2009 biography of Marilyn Monroe - The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe - made a re-appearance on the e-books best-seller list at number two in the summer of 2012.
In November of 2012, it was announced that Reelz cable channel had optioned Taraborrelli's New York Times best-selling book, After Camelot, as a miniseries. It will be his second television miniseries, the first airing on NBC in 2000 and based on his book, Jackie, Ethel, Joan.
Through his newly formed J. Randy Taraborrelli Productions, Taraborrelli is currently developing and producing a number of television projects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 6, 2025
"the great enemy of truth, is not the lie, but the myth"-JKF. Author presents this as non-fiction book, but then rest of book succumbs to the myth, perpetuating the Camelot fairy tale, more like fiction. He lists JFK's women (1st book to dispute sex with Monroe?). He had many sources but makes up dialogue he can't have known. He ends it like a Hollywood bio pic including its tragic ending. I've read tons of Kennedy books, but author can't see past his agenda, to defend JFK despite his many flaws.
August 10, 2025
JFK: Public, Private, Secret is not so much a biography but rather a summation of a man with exceptional wit, intellect, grace, and charm, who - despite the advantages afforded him by wealth and privilege - suffered throughout his life from a host of ailments. Indeed, he had at least twice been administered the Last Rites by the Catholic Church, only to survive and pursue a public service career that culminated with his election in 1960 as the 35th President of the United States.
The life and career of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is a subject that I have studied for many years. He is one of those historical figures that I find endlessly fascinating on so many levels. This book takes the reader from the time he first made the acquaintance of Jacqueline Bouvier at a Georgetown dinner party in the spring of 1951, his campaign in 1952 for the U.S. Senate against a popular Republican incumbent in MA, his winning of that Senate seat against the odds, his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier in September 1953, and the many struggles - public and private - he faced in his marriage, personal life, and political career.
Much of the book shows JFK from a variety of perspectives from the people who knew him best - be it JFK the politician or JFK the private person, warts and all. J. Randy Taraborrelli has brought to light from scores of interviews with the few people now living who knew him best, as well as from oral histories, and quotes from Jacqueline Kennedy and JFK himself -- several facets from JFK's life that until now had not been known to the public. For instance, his first great love, Inga Arvad, a beautiful Danish journalist he had met in 1941 through his beloved sister Kathleen, who was later implicated as a Nazi spy (falsely) by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, following the U.S. entry into World War II. JFK wanted to marry Arvad but was thwarted from doing so. Considering the sheer volume of books that have been written about JFK since his assassination in November 1963, it is revelations like his relationships with women like Arvad and Mary Pinchot Meyer that makes JFK: Public, Private, Secret all the more remarkable.
One would be inclined to think: What more is there to know about John Fitzgerald Kennedy? Don't we already know all there is to know about him? I would invite the reader of this review to read this book (which has 2 sets of photographs showing JFK - along with family, friends, and associates - from much of his life) and learn more about this great man who, while not blind to his own faults and human failings, strove always to serve the best interests of his country and humanity to the fullest extent of his abilities, while inspiring others to do good things, and - in the process - become better human beings.
The life and career of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is a subject that I have studied for many years. He is one of those historical figures that I find endlessly fascinating on so many levels. This book takes the reader from the time he first made the acquaintance of Jacqueline Bouvier at a Georgetown dinner party in the spring of 1951, his campaign in 1952 for the U.S. Senate against a popular Republican incumbent in MA, his winning of that Senate seat against the odds, his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier in September 1953, and the many struggles - public and private - he faced in his marriage, personal life, and political career.
Much of the book shows JFK from a variety of perspectives from the people who knew him best - be it JFK the politician or JFK the private person, warts and all. J. Randy Taraborrelli has brought to light from scores of interviews with the few people now living who knew him best, as well as from oral histories, and quotes from Jacqueline Kennedy and JFK himself -- several facets from JFK's life that until now had not been known to the public. For instance, his first great love, Inga Arvad, a beautiful Danish journalist he had met in 1941 through his beloved sister Kathleen, who was later implicated as a Nazi spy (falsely) by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, following the U.S. entry into World War II. JFK wanted to marry Arvad but was thwarted from doing so. Considering the sheer volume of books that have been written about JFK since his assassination in November 1963, it is revelations like his relationships with women like Arvad and Mary Pinchot Meyer that makes JFK: Public, Private, Secret all the more remarkable.
One would be inclined to think: What more is there to know about John Fitzgerald Kennedy? Don't we already know all there is to know about him? I would invite the reader of this review to read this book (which has 2 sets of photographs showing JFK - along with family, friends, and associates - from much of his life) and learn more about this great man who, while not blind to his own faults and human failings, strove always to serve the best interests of his country and humanity to the fullest extent of his abilities, while inspiring others to do good things, and - in the process - become better human beings.
September 1, 2025
Its amazing that 62 years after his assassination we are still learning new things. This book was able to offer some new insights into who JFK was as a person and a politician. I didn't expect to get anything out of this book really. It was just supposed to be a little fun gossipy read but the section on Vietnam was truly interesting and it has piqued my desire to do a deep dive into Vietnam.
I highly recommend this book to history lovers and gossip lovers.
I highly recommend this book to history lovers and gossip lovers.
September 6, 2025
During the Kennedy years in office, 1961-1963, his popularity hovered around 76 percent. No president in American history has yet to reach that level; not even Ronald Reagan.
Mr. Taraborrelli has written a well researched account of JFK, his life and his presidency.
Mr. Taraborrelli has written a well researched account of JFK, his life and his presidency.
July 28, 2025
A compelling case for genuine character growth at the end of JFK’s life, properly highlighting the POV of the women in his life. As a result, it is an insightful, moving biography. Unsparing and empathetic at once.
October 10, 2025
Thanks so much to Goodreads for the free book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
The problem with this book is that I have absolutely no idea how much of the information in the book. Which obviously is a huge issue in a non-fiction book. The author made up conversations between people. It is possible he had first source references like diaries and letters to back up these, but then he should have just talked about that diary entry or letter. The way it was written, it is a strange combination of historical fiction and biography. This is the second one I have seen this year. I don't understand what the point of this is.
The problem with this book is that I have absolutely no idea how much of the information in the book. Which obviously is a huge issue in a non-fiction book. The author made up conversations between people. It is possible he had first source references like diaries and letters to back up these, but then he should have just talked about that diary entry or letter. The way it was written, it is a strange combination of historical fiction and biography. This is the second one I have seen this year. I don't understand what the point of this is.
August 6, 2025
An attempt to describe and account for JFK's sex addiction and his need for personal space. I read this after having read a similar book about Jackie's behavior and the accommodations she made to her skittish husband's peculiarities, without which she would have had to divorce him or lose her self respect. At the end, I felt very sad for John F Kennedy, who lived under the shadow of a cold, cold mother, a helicopter father, often away, a chronic and life-threatening disease, and the loss of three siblings. Is it any wonder he was detached? It would seem that Jackie threatened divorce after Jack refused to come home when she lost her first pregnancy, and Joe Kennedy stepped in and offered additional security to persuade her to stay a while longer. She did, and was able to play a role, though unacknowledged, as an advisor in foreign affairs, which she studied carefully before offering her conclusions to her grateful husband. Both Kennedys took advantage of the "vitamin shots" offered by their NYC doctor, and were often high when performing for the public.
Jack was adored by women, but also by men. The nature of his sexuality is obliquely addressed in the description of relationships he maintained with several male friends, but is never tackled head on. There is enough said to suggest that Kennedy might have had homosexual experiences, but it remains only a suggestion of a possibility.
His mistakes in governing are addressed, and well as his profoundly self-critical analysis of his own performance. He berates himself for listening to his advisors without investigating the facts for himself. The author is certain that Kennedy attempted to stop the coup in VietNam which he had approved offhandedly on the strong advice of his ambassador, Henry Cabot Lodge. When he tried to prevent the assassination by warning the target, he was ignored, and people died. Kennedy was distraught and began making new policy that would have prevented further interference in Indochina. The author provided no backup for those statements, however.
As his shell was cracked by failures of governance and by the loss of his son, Patrick, and as Jackie's care for him finally began to penetrate his defenses, it seemed that the wild, sloppy, grinning boy began to deepen and mature in his marriage, though he reportedly never gave up his extra girls entirely.
So the books I read about the Kennedy marriage were a little too gossipy to be definitive for me, but the descriptions and allegations generally were aligned with what I had read elsewhere.
Jack was adored by women, but also by men. The nature of his sexuality is obliquely addressed in the description of relationships he maintained with several male friends, but is never tackled head on. There is enough said to suggest that Kennedy might have had homosexual experiences, but it remains only a suggestion of a possibility.
His mistakes in governing are addressed, and well as his profoundly self-critical analysis of his own performance. He berates himself for listening to his advisors without investigating the facts for himself. The author is certain that Kennedy attempted to stop the coup in VietNam which he had approved offhandedly on the strong advice of his ambassador, Henry Cabot Lodge. When he tried to prevent the assassination by warning the target, he was ignored, and people died. Kennedy was distraught and began making new policy that would have prevented further interference in Indochina. The author provided no backup for those statements, however.
As his shell was cracked by failures of governance and by the loss of his son, Patrick, and as Jackie's care for him finally began to penetrate his defenses, it seemed that the wild, sloppy, grinning boy began to deepen and mature in his marriage, though he reportedly never gave up his extra girls entirely.
So the books I read about the Kennedy marriage were a little too gossipy to be definitive for me, but the descriptions and allegations generally were aligned with what I had read elsewhere.
July 11, 2025
I thought this was fine. I loved the companion book on Jackie that came out last year and think these could’ve been combined. He writes SO much on this family and it’s getting very repetitive.
Shout out to my local BN for putting this book out 2 weeks early!!!!!
Shout out to my local BN for putting this book out 2 weeks early!!!!!
October 10, 2025
I had a hard time getting into this book, which seemed to lack any kind of real substance within its 491-pages. Indeed, much of the book felt more like something out of a gossip magazine, with the writer gleefully cataloguing the numerous affairs of both Jack Kennedy and his father. In this regard, in an attempt to wake up the reader to this seemingly endless list of sexual transgressions, Randy Taraborrelli, the author continually ended various sentences with one or more exclamation marks. Worse yet, many of the conversations (complete with quotation marks) among the people in Jack’s orbit felt thoroughly contrived; as I can’t imagine the possibility of so many these interactions (often, very trivial) standing the test of time to be repeated with such precision. Fortunately, for anyone interested in learning more about the life of JFK, there are plenty of other far better-researched book available.
August 16, 2025
Read many books about JFK, none as revealing and human as this one.
September 11, 2025
A must read, even if you don’t like the Kennedy family. This book tells the story not only of JFK, but the struggles of him and the people around him. It also claims that the father, Joseph, did not amass his fortune in the liquor trade during prohibition. It also affirms that everyone was unfaithful, not only the men but the women. It tells is losing the Bay of Pigs fiasco, which may not have been his fault. It also tells of the Cuban Missile Crisis and how he adverted war. It tells of the many exploits with women and leaves the reader with the hope of his reconciliation with Jackie. A marvelous read that goes beyond all of the books written about family to this point.
September 24, 2025
After reading JFK public and private. I thought I knew what he was like as a human being but now after reading this book. I have a better understanding. The book takes the reader into his complicated relationship with his mother and father and how his own relationship with his wife Jackie who he grew to love and after the death of their son Patrick became very much in love with each other only to see it end in a horrific way.
September 28, 2025
Audiobook- I have listened to a few JFK books . I still hear some of the same stories however this one came from a different perspective. They talked about his childhood, parents, fame and how he was changing.
November 11, 2025
When I went to pick up this book at the library and saw that it was nearly 500 pages of rather small print, I had my doubts that I would finish it. Those doubts were quickly dispelled. The book is fascinating, well-written, sometimes deeply disturbing, and, in the truest sense of the word, a real page-turner. I highly recommend it.
July 28, 2025
There have been many books written about President John F. Kennedy (JFK), most of them seeming to settle in on the assassination - that's become an entire cottage industry all its own - and of course, JFK the President. Add to that the gossip books where one little incident (often made up) results in a bunch of books and you have another cottage industry. This book is different. It is indeed, about JFK the man, but doesn't dwell on the gossip, it instead gives us the facts, many of which have been totally ignored by JFK "researchers" looking for a quick buck.
This is one of the more heavily researched books you could hope to find on JFK the man with the author obviously going the extra mile to insure it isn't just another piece of JFK garbage, of which there is a lot. He has interviewed people through the years and many of them are no longer with us, researched oral histories and the like to insure this is a book worth reading.
The reader is presented with JFK the youth, the war hero, the lover, the husband, the philandering playboy and cheating husband, the father,the Representative, the Senator and yes, the president. The author has taken pains to debunk the gossip and present the facts which makes this book an interesting read - you learn that a lot of what you thought was true, wasn't and falls into the gossip realm. And, you're presented with facts not evident in other books because this is the first time they've seen print since they come from the aforementioned personal interviews. That's what makes this book a worthwhile read for anyone interested in JFK the man.
Of course, we get the war stories and the presidential victories and losses, but they're placed in their proper context - how did they affect JFK, the man?
As the years go by, those of us who remember the JFK years (how many presidents were admired by both parties? Not too many.) are dying off, but it just seems that there will always be a special interest in JFK because those years offered us so much, and so much was taken from us. Truth be told, we haven't seen anything like those years since his death which is a sad commentary on our times. He was taken from us and along with him went the hopes and dreams of the country to be buried in the endless morass of a no-win war in Vietnam, a president resigning in disgrace and on and on, up to a president who was cognitively impaired and had no business in the office to a president who has been the impetus for more rioting in the streets since the 1960's. We've seen it all and it isn't pretty.
This book then, is for the person who wants to know - for lack of a better phrase - what made JFK tick and is highly recommended for the serious Kennedy scholar or the person who is just curious as to what it was all about. And if you want to read about the assassination, there are many other books out there - this is, thankfully, not one of them.
This is one of the more heavily researched books you could hope to find on JFK the man with the author obviously going the extra mile to insure it isn't just another piece of JFK garbage, of which there is a lot. He has interviewed people through the years and many of them are no longer with us, researched oral histories and the like to insure this is a book worth reading.
The reader is presented with JFK the youth, the war hero, the lover, the husband, the philandering playboy and cheating husband, the father,the Representative, the Senator and yes, the president. The author has taken pains to debunk the gossip and present the facts which makes this book an interesting read - you learn that a lot of what you thought was true, wasn't and falls into the gossip realm. And, you're presented with facts not evident in other books because this is the first time they've seen print since they come from the aforementioned personal interviews. That's what makes this book a worthwhile read for anyone interested in JFK the man.
Of course, we get the war stories and the presidential victories and losses, but they're placed in their proper context - how did they affect JFK, the man?
As the years go by, those of us who remember the JFK years (how many presidents were admired by both parties? Not too many.) are dying off, but it just seems that there will always be a special interest in JFK because those years offered us so much, and so much was taken from us. Truth be told, we haven't seen anything like those years since his death which is a sad commentary on our times. He was taken from us and along with him went the hopes and dreams of the country to be buried in the endless morass of a no-win war in Vietnam, a president resigning in disgrace and on and on, up to a president who was cognitively impaired and had no business in the office to a president who has been the impetus for more rioting in the streets since the 1960's. We've seen it all and it isn't pretty.
This book then, is for the person who wants to know - for lack of a better phrase - what made JFK tick and is highly recommended for the serious Kennedy scholar or the person who is just curious as to what it was all about. And if you want to read about the assassination, there are many other books out there - this is, thankfully, not one of them.
August 7, 2025
Who will ever know the absolute truth? No one. Not even the people who were in any part of any meeting, conversation, decision, or moment in time know more than their own truths. It is eye opening to read about things we thought we knew and things we never realized were taking place. Well written and an easy to follow book.
September 4, 2025
I wasn’t seeking this book to read but saw it at the library, walked past it and started flipping through to see if it looked good. I decided to read it and it captivated me from the beginning. It was a well documented and well sourced biography. I enjoyed how the book was laid out as well as how the author presented each topic. It didn’t run like a typical biography. The sections were specific yet toggled between time and topic. I had forgotten that I had read this author’s book on Jackie, Lee and Janet until some stories I remembered from that book came to mind when I
was reading. Again, it’s well written and researched. I would recommend it.
was reading. Again, it’s well written and researched. I would recommend it.
September 1, 2025
Definitely the longest book I will read in a bit, but there's just something about the Kennedy family from the 60s that fascinates me. I didn't know much about JFK and all his philandering, but learning more about his private and public life made me wish he could've been around longer. I feel like I should also read the book about Jackie--and is it too much to hope for something about Jr?
I admit that I did skim some of the sections that got a little heavy politically, just because I feel like we live in a world that is overly saturated with politics. Not that we should turn our eyes away from the madness that's occurring, but it's just overloaded at times.
I actually had no idea that John had a small connection to my hometown, as one of his mistresses was living there. It's just odd to see your suburban hometown listed in a book that doesn't reference Hilary, since that's where she called home. Anyway, I found so many parts of this book fascinated, from his childhood, to his family's many tragedies, to the hopes that he had realized how much Jackie meant to him. The Kennedys truly are one of the country's most recognized but tragic families.
FK: Public, Private, Secret is not so much a biography but rather a summation of a man with exceptional wit, intellect, grace, and charm, who - despite the advantages afforded him by wealth and privilege - suffered throughout his life from a host of ailments. Indeed, he had at least twice been administered the Last Rites by the Catholic Church, only to survive and pursue a public service career that culminated with his election in 1960 as the 35th President of the United States.
The life and career of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is a subject that I have studied for many years. He is one of those historical figures that I find endlessly fascinating on so many levels. This book takes the reader from the time he first made the acquaintance of Jacqueline Bouvier at a Georgetown dinner party in the spring of 1951, his campaign in 1952 for the U.S. Senate against a popular Republican incumbent in MA, his winning of that Senate seat against the odds, his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier in September 1953, and the many struggles - public and private - he faced in his marriage, personal life, and political career.
Much of the book shows JFK from a variety of perspectives from the people who knew him best - be it JFK the politician or JFK the private person, warts and all. J. Randy Taraborrelli has brought to light from scores of interviews with the few people now living who knew him best, as well as from oral histories, and quotes from Jacqueline Kennedy and JFK himself -- several facets from JFK's life that until now had not been known to the public. For instance, his first great love, Inga Arvad, a beautiful Danish journalist he had met in 1941 through his beloved sister Kathleen, who was later implicated as a Nazi spy (falsely) by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, following the U.S. entry into World War II. JFK wanted to marry Arvad but was thwarted from doing so. Considering the sheer volume of books that have been written about JFK since his assassination in November 1963, it is revelations like his relationships with women like Arvad and Mary Pinchot Meyer that makes JFK: Public, Private, Secret all the more remarkable.
One would be inclined to think: What more is there to know about John Fitzgerald Kennedy? Don't we already know all there is to know about him? I would invite the reader of this review to read this book (which has 2 sets of photographs showing JFK - along with family, friends, and associates - from much of his life) and learn more about this great man who, while not blind to his own faults and human failings, strove always to serve the best interests of his country and humanity to the fullest extent of his abilities, while inspiring others to do good things, and - in the process - become better human beings.
I admit that I did skim some of the sections that got a little heavy politically, just because I feel like we live in a world that is overly saturated with politics. Not that we should turn our eyes away from the madness that's occurring, but it's just overloaded at times.
I actually had no idea that John had a small connection to my hometown, as one of his mistresses was living there. It's just odd to see your suburban hometown listed in a book that doesn't reference Hilary, since that's where she called home. Anyway, I found so many parts of this book fascinated, from his childhood, to his family's many tragedies, to the hopes that he had realized how much Jackie meant to him. The Kennedys truly are one of the country's most recognized but tragic families.
FK: Public, Private, Secret is not so much a biography but rather a summation of a man with exceptional wit, intellect, grace, and charm, who - despite the advantages afforded him by wealth and privilege - suffered throughout his life from a host of ailments. Indeed, he had at least twice been administered the Last Rites by the Catholic Church, only to survive and pursue a public service career that culminated with his election in 1960 as the 35th President of the United States.
The life and career of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is a subject that I have studied for many years. He is one of those historical figures that I find endlessly fascinating on so many levels. This book takes the reader from the time he first made the acquaintance of Jacqueline Bouvier at a Georgetown dinner party in the spring of 1951, his campaign in 1952 for the U.S. Senate against a popular Republican incumbent in MA, his winning of that Senate seat against the odds, his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier in September 1953, and the many struggles - public and private - he faced in his marriage, personal life, and political career.
Much of the book shows JFK from a variety of perspectives from the people who knew him best - be it JFK the politician or JFK the private person, warts and all. J. Randy Taraborrelli has brought to light from scores of interviews with the few people now living who knew him best, as well as from oral histories, and quotes from Jacqueline Kennedy and JFK himself -- several facets from JFK's life that until now had not been known to the public. For instance, his first great love, Inga Arvad, a beautiful Danish journalist he had met in 1941 through his beloved sister Kathleen, who was later implicated as a Nazi spy (falsely) by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, following the U.S. entry into World War II. JFK wanted to marry Arvad but was thwarted from doing so. Considering the sheer volume of books that have been written about JFK since his assassination in November 1963, it is revelations like his relationships with women like Arvad and Mary Pinchot Meyer that makes JFK: Public, Private, Secret all the more remarkable.
One would be inclined to think: What more is there to know about John Fitzgerald Kennedy? Don't we already know all there is to know about him? I would invite the reader of this review to read this book (which has 2 sets of photographs showing JFK - along with family, friends, and associates - from much of his life) and learn more about this great man who, while not blind to his own faults and human failings, strove always to serve the best interests of his country and humanity to the fullest extent of his abilities, while inspiring others to do good things, and - in the process - become better human beings.
September 19, 2025
Sorry…. But this book is as much a fairy tale and the whole Camelot Myth that Jackie Kennedy put out to the world.
JFK was no great husband nor a great man. He was a serial cheater and didn’t really have a clue about running a country and had it not been for his Daddy’s Big Bucks he would have never been a senator, much less POTUS. Sounds a bit familiar.
He had us on the brink of nuclear war.
There is really no huge new facts at all in this book. Reads like a tawdry novel and it’s laughable that the author disputes Kennedy’s relationship with Monroe. Way too many people have verified his involvement with her.
I pretty much just picked the book up and put it back down dozens of times. It’s a large book and I struggled with it.
His assassination was a terrible thing. I was only 3 and don’t really remember much except my Mom would not let us turn the TV on for a week. It seems we are still living in a world full of hate so instead of progressing we are stuck in a loop.
Sad.
So was this book. They really should put it on the shelves as fiction, because the author fabricated so much.
I was disappointed.
JFK was no great husband nor a great man. He was a serial cheater and didn’t really have a clue about running a country and had it not been for his Daddy’s Big Bucks he would have never been a senator, much less POTUS. Sounds a bit familiar.
He had us on the brink of nuclear war.
There is really no huge new facts at all in this book. Reads like a tawdry novel and it’s laughable that the author disputes Kennedy’s relationship with Monroe. Way too many people have verified his involvement with her.
I pretty much just picked the book up and put it back down dozens of times. It’s a large book and I struggled with it.
His assassination was a terrible thing. I was only 3 and don’t really remember much except my Mom would not let us turn the TV on for a week. It seems we are still living in a world full of hate so instead of progressing we are stuck in a loop.
Sad.
So was this book. They really should put it on the shelves as fiction, because the author fabricated so much.
I was disappointed.
October 11, 2025
I put a hold on this book when it appeared at my local library's "coming soon" list, knowing little about the author, or the book, but knowing I liked presidential biographies. "JFK: Public, Private, Secret" well exceeded my expectations. The organization is different, not rigidly chronological but roughly so, and divided into many short chapters that are grouped topically. It worked well at showing John F Kennedy's upbringing, the young war hero, the dive into politics, with a swift rise to the Senate and talk of a vice-presidential nomination, to winning the presidency by the slimmest of margins over Richard Nixon. Taraborrelli does not excuse JFK's serial philandering, but goes some way toward explaining it, with the poor example set by his father, Joe, and the apparent near-total lack of motherly affection from Rose, his mother. Taraborrelli makes the case that JFK was beginning to mature out of that behavior in the year or two before his assassination, and points out how unlikely his often-reported affair with Marilyn Monroe was. Overall, a very enjoyable and informative read.
August 22, 2025
J. Randy Taraborrelli has long devoted his pen to the saga of the Kennedys—most often through the graceful shadow of Jackie. So when he turned his gaze toward the elusive soul of John F. Kennedy himself, I was eager to follow. What would he reveal when the lens shifted from the icon beside the throne to the man who wore the crown?
What emerged was a masterfully written, richly sourced portrait—one that pulls back the curtain on a presidency fraught with peril, promise, and profound contradiction. Page after page unfolds the crises that tested him, the marriage that shaped and haunted him, and the childhood that carved out the man beneath the myth. In exploring JFK’s earliest years and complex family roots, the book offers more than just backstory—it offers understanding. His personal failings come into sharper focus, yes, but so too does his unwavering drive to serve a country he believed in, even when the weight of it seemed unbearable.
At nearly 600 pages, the book may look formidable, but once I began, I was helpless to stop. I had thought I knew Kennedy—but through Taraborrelli’s meticulous, deeply human portrait, I discovered how much more there was to learn. The public face, the private turmoil, the secrets carried behind closed doors—all are here, laid bare without sensationalism, but with reverence for the complexity of a life lived in both spotlight and shadow.
Each chapter is brief, yet potent—compact windows into different moments of JFK’s world. Familiar headlines are given new dimension, while lesser-known truths are illuminated with care and clarity. I closed the final pages not just wiser about Kennedy the president, but about the family, the forces, and the fragile humanity that made him.
JFK: Public, Private, Secret is a standout work—elegant, incisive, and utterly absorbing. For those drawn to the enigma of John F. Kennedy, this book is more than biography. It is revelation. Highly recommended for anyone who seeks to look beyond the legend and into the man.
What emerged was a masterfully written, richly sourced portrait—one that pulls back the curtain on a presidency fraught with peril, promise, and profound contradiction. Page after page unfolds the crises that tested him, the marriage that shaped and haunted him, and the childhood that carved out the man beneath the myth. In exploring JFK’s earliest years and complex family roots, the book offers more than just backstory—it offers understanding. His personal failings come into sharper focus, yes, but so too does his unwavering drive to serve a country he believed in, even when the weight of it seemed unbearable.
At nearly 600 pages, the book may look formidable, but once I began, I was helpless to stop. I had thought I knew Kennedy—but through Taraborrelli’s meticulous, deeply human portrait, I discovered how much more there was to learn. The public face, the private turmoil, the secrets carried behind closed doors—all are here, laid bare without sensationalism, but with reverence for the complexity of a life lived in both spotlight and shadow.
Each chapter is brief, yet potent—compact windows into different moments of JFK’s world. Familiar headlines are given new dimension, while lesser-known truths are illuminated with care and clarity. I closed the final pages not just wiser about Kennedy the president, but about the family, the forces, and the fragile humanity that made him.
JFK: Public, Private, Secret is a standout work—elegant, incisive, and utterly absorbing. For those drawn to the enigma of John F. Kennedy, this book is more than biography. It is revelation. Highly recommended for anyone who seeks to look beyond the legend and into the man.
September 10, 2025
J. Randy Taraborrelli is a genius when it comes to non-fiction. Believe it or not, I'm not a fan of non-fiction, but his books read like fiction, so even at 600 pages, you breeze through it. Well done sir!
All the things he was going to be....
He would build empires
And he would have sons
Others would fall where the current runs
He would find love
He would never find peace
For he must go seeking
The Golden Fleece.
All the things he was going to be
All the things in the wind and sea.
Jackie Kennedy wrote this poem about JFK in 1953. How prophetic it would become.
All the things he was going to be....
He would build empires
And he would have sons
Others would fall where the current runs
He would find love
He would never find peace
For he must go seeking
The Golden Fleece.
All the things he was going to be
All the things in the wind and sea.
Jackie Kennedy wrote this poem about JFK in 1953. How prophetic it would become.
September 20, 2025
I was 11 years old when John Kennedy was assassinated. Over the years, many stories, rumors and much speculation has been published about various aspects of his life and death. This book does a great job of getting all such speculation together in one place and then based upon very thorough research, revealing what is currently thought to be the truth. The topics that are presented are many and are covered very concisely and to the point. This is a very interesting book and certainly holds the readers attention.
September 6, 2025
It’s hard not to think of it as a gossipy tale but it’s deeper. Big change after Patrick dies in NICU in him as he begins to feel deeply. Lots of women, lots of drugs he didn’t realize were real drugs - lots of insight into his natal family.
Want to read
September 9, 2025JFK Certainly had some Reckless Affairs that put the Country at Risk. I am looking forward to Reading this One and Seeing if he just had a Blind Spot to his actions or knew he was hurting others and just disregarded that since he assumed he was entitled to behave this way.
About 600 Pages, so will certainly learn a lot. The Author wrote a Book about Jackie, titled the same. Look into that as well.
About 600 Pages, so will certainly learn a lot. The Author wrote a Book about Jackie, titled the same. Look into that as well.
September 2, 2025
Probably of most interest to those who were living during the years that JFK was, and who recall vividly the day that he was assassinated. Very readable, exhaustively researched, offering still more ‘new’ information on the man and his life, 62 years after his death.
September 3, 2025
So much myth surrounding JFK but people will choose to believe what they want regarding JFK.
Spoiler alert. JFK had many love affairs but he did not have an affair with Marilyn Monroe and despite conspiracy theories claiming otherwise the Kennedy’s were not involved in her death.
Great read.
Spoiler alert. JFK had many love affairs but he did not have an affair with Marilyn Monroe and despite conspiracy theories claiming otherwise the Kennedy’s were not involved in her death.
Great read.
October 15, 2025
Lots of stuff I already read before, still entertaining read.
October 26, 2025
Extraordinary Biography
I wanted to read this book after reading his biography on Jackie. It’s not about Jack being good or bad, but being human. Really absorbing and meaningful.
I wanted to read this book after reading his biography on Jackie. It’s not about Jack being good or bad, but being human. Really absorbing and meaningful.
August 31, 2025
There is something about JFK and his family that has always intrigued me. Probably because he was spoken of as something of a hero in our house growing up but the more I hear about him as an adult, WOOF! God bless him because his ability to take care of the humans in his life continues to sound really terrible.
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