UNAFRAID: A Novel of the Possible

by Jeff Golden

Unafraid is a different kind of novel. While its story captivated me, its exploration of the possible was lifting my hopes for America and the world. This is a fine and important book. -Mark Gerzon, author, Leading Through Conflict and President of the Mediators Foundation A bullet strays three inches. A world is transformed. Two dates burn fiercely in the memory of millions of November 22, 1963 and September 11, 2001. These two tragedies bracket Unafraid, a story grounded in a simple what if the fatal bullet fired on that sunny Dallas afternoon had veered three inches off target? Unafraid lays out a compelling answer, rich with the public adventures and private dramas of 20th Century icons-J. Edgar Hoover, Martin Luther King, Fidel Castro, Golda Meir, the Beatles-played out on a transformed world stage. At the center of this parallel history is a leader who blows the sides out of conventional politics with a simple a primary reason that idealistic goals are "impossible" to achieve is that we needlessly decide that they're impossible to achieve. With a tiny imaginary spin of history's wheel, Unafraid opens the gates to an America of realistic hope and possibility. "What an exciting, clever, imaginative book! And more, what an insightful, important one. This is the Great Read you've been looking for." -Neale Donald Walsch, author of the Conversations with God series.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Alternate History, Science Fiction

356 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2008

About the author

Jeff Golden attended Harvard University as a National Scholar during the height of the Vietnam War and decided to swap the Ivy Halls for 20 acres in the backwoods of Oregon and a used chainsaw. He chronicled that journey in the book Watermelon Summer (Lippincott & Co, 1971). After a decade building homes, guiding whitewater river trips, and working in the forests of the Cascade Mountains, Jeff dropped back in to earn a Masters in Communications degree from Stanford University.

He has spent the last 25 years in politics, broadcasting and editorial journalism and organizational consulting. His political career includes service as a Jackson County (OR) Commissioner, Chief of Staff to the Oregon Senate President, and Environmental Policy aide to the City of Portland. During those years he wrote Forest Blood (Wellstone Books, 1998), the pre-eminent novel of the Northwest timber wars. His stand for responsible forestry made him the target of an unsuccessful recall campaign financed by national timber corporations, and earned him the first nomination ever from the state of Oregon for the JFK Profile in Courage Award, which partly sparked his newest book, UNAFRAID: A Novel of the Possible.

Jeff founded IMMENSE POSSIBILITIES (www.immensepossibilities.org), the weekly series he produces and hosts on public television. Check it out!

He lives in Ashland, Oregon, and makes a decent effort at staying balanced with cycling, rafting, music, acting and unpredictable adventures with his grown son and daughter. You can contact him directly at info@immensepossibilities.org.

Reviews

[Lavonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unafraid is an alternate history novel, in which JFK does not succumb to the sniper’s bullet in Dallas. It is truly a fairy tale, with JFK starring as Superman, with the amazing ability to see far into the future and in his fictional second term, to lay the groundwork to solve every single major crisis the world is suffering from today. Rounding out his Justice League are Bobby Kennedy as Vice President and MLK as Secretary of State. JFK turns the world on its ear, by tossing out traditional politics and laying all the cards on the table for everyone, even our so-called enemies, to see. The end result of JFK’s astonishing policies is that Caroline Kennedy is meeting with her father’s biographer for lunch at the top of the World Trade Center on 9/18/11.

This book is a little slow to start, but once Kennedy hits his stride in the novel, it is very difficult to put down. I found much wisdom and inspiration in the imagined words of a fallen President.

Yes, the whole thing is a fairy tale, but a beautiful dream, nonetheless. Imagine if today’s politicians actually stopped operating from fear and started operating from a true place of service and fairness. Imagine what a world that would be.

[Jeff Golden]

Why, I thought it was splendid, an invigorating picture of what was possible in the late 20th century and what STILL IS. That's why I wrote it.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of JFK's assassination, I earnestly hope that people of an age to remember just where when they heard the news, whose sense of politics and the world fundamentally changed at that moment -- and people who have despaired at much of America's history since then -- will read a short excerpt or two at www.unafraidthebook.com and see if this book is for them. For you.

Thanks.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book. It includes some novel ideas and some great critical thinking politically, but I expected more. I wanted the book not to cover only the 8 years of the Kennedy presidency. Obviously, 9/11 never occurred in this book due to earlier efforts at peace by JFK, but there was too much omitted. At the end, it seemed the author got tired of writing and just quit. Although I was often bored during the reading of this book, there were just not enough of the fictionalized details of the personal life of the Kennedys, including the death of President Kennedy...

[Victoria Laskowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book. Although it is occasionally wonkish, it develops a very realistic of view of what might have happened if Kennedy had survived on Nov 22. This is not a happily ever after story - there are some real shockers that will leave one shaken (though you can sort of see them coming a few pages before...). But it does show the world veering in a very different direction from where we are now.

[Melissa Gerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who loves JFK, this book is absolutely for you. It's an alternate history..."What would happen if JFK lived". Yes, at times it's a little bit far fetched. So if you're an American History snob, you may scoff at some of the alt history (RFK being VP, MLK Jr, becoming Secretary of State). But if you are all about JFK, then you should be all about this book!

[Leslie]

I enjoyed the story - I had just finished "11/22/63" by Stephen King which is also an alternate story model to the same historic event. I can definitely see where JFK's assassination had a huge impact on our world (not that this was ever in question). It was really an interesting perspective from Caroline's point of view. I enjoyed it!

[Mary Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. It gets a little wonky but there's enough in the clever alternate history to keep the reader engaged. Framing story is nicely done though I have some quibbles with it. I found the ending interesting.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather interesting to contemplate what if politics worked the way they should. Presents a forward thinking point of view on foreign policy that while pure fiction would be interesting to see put into practice - especially in the middle east.

[Justin Litke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the book as part of a giveaway. Not really what I expected to be honest. I found myself wishing there was a scene where the assassination was described in more detail. It was okay, but I didn't really care for the way the story was told.

[Susan Engelhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a JFK "enthusiast" I truly enjoyed this alternate history book. Made me think about our country's history in the 1960s and all the what if's and what could of been's if the trip to Dallas would have had a different outcome. Good read for sure.

[lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those of us who grow up in the 60's all remember where we were when JFK was shot. And often speak of where this country might have headed if things had been different. Well, this novel deals with just that. Kind of amazing from the very first page to realize what might have been!

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most interesting speculation on how American (and world) history might have unfolded had JFK not died in Dallas in November 1963. Plausible scenarios are dealt with in retrospect, filtered through the eyes of an adult Caroline Kennedy. As a "what-if?" novel, this one's well worth your time.

[CatBookMom]

I was in junior high when JFK was assassinated, and like thousands of others, am fascinated by the possibilites, the 'what-if's' he had survived.

[Dee]

$1.99

[Doug Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating concept of a what-if scenario that ended in blissful absurdity.

[H.B. Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. It may have too much of a look back through the perspective of 21st-century sensibilities, but it made my think.

[Susan]

Nice southern fellow from the bus (and UVM) recommended this. His daughter loved it and he was enjoying as well.

[Michelle Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

best historical fiction I've read in a while, issues are still relevant today

[Tony Parsons]

a must read book for me

[Tony Parsons]

wow