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JFK's Secret Doctor: The Remarkable Life of Medical Pioneer and Legendary Rock Climber Hans Kraus
Set against the grand panorama of twentieth-century world events, it captures the remarkable life and spirit of climbing and medical visionary Hans Kraus (1905-1966). Kraus was taught English by James Joyce, escaped Nazi dominated Europe, and was JFK’s secret back specialist. A legendary rock climber known for hair-raising ascents on two continents, Kraus lived a life filled with tragedy and triumph, intense passion, verve, and a whole lot of guts, glory, and wit.
One of the great unsung medical pioneers of the twentieth century, Kraus made headline news throughout the second half of the 1950s, was a guest of honor at Eisenhower’s White House, and was the subject of cover stories in major magazines throughout America, including Sports Illustrated. His pioneering work in muscles and fitness uncovered a shocking truth about a lack of fitness in American children, and his work curing back pain brought him into the Kennedy White House and inner circle of Camelot. Here now is the life of Hans Kraus, including the behind-the-scenes story of Kennedy’s crippling back problems, based on new documentation, including White House medical records and interviews with two Kennedy White House doctors.
Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
One of the great unsung medical pioneers of the twentieth century, Kraus made headline news throughout the second half of the 1950s, was a guest of honor at Eisenhower’s White House, and was the subject of cover stories in major magazines throughout America, including Sports Illustrated. His pioneering work in muscles and fitness uncovered a shocking truth about a lack of fitness in American children, and his work curing back pain brought him into the Kennedy White House and inner circle of Camelot. Here now is the life of Hans Kraus, including the behind-the-scenes story of Kennedy’s crippling back problems, based on new documentation, including White House medical records and interviews with two Kennedy White House doctors.
Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2012
95 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 11, 2023
Really interesting book, not quite as expected as more of a general autobiography as opposed to a story focussing on JFK. The most interesting aspects of the story are around his ground breaking treatment of back issues generally as opposed to being JFK’s back Doctor. Anyone with back problems should definitely read this book, the conclusions and advice makes sense. ( I have researched him after reading and you can follow his exercise programme on YouTube). Although climbing is not an interest of mine I did enjoy the tales of his climbing adventures. He certainly lived a diverse and fascinating life.
January 6, 2017
Incredible story of an incredible man!
It would be very difficult to highlight all the different aspects of this talented in site full man. I feel the author did a great job of keeping the reader organized in thought and understanding throughout the book.
It would be very difficult to highlight all the different aspects of this talented in site full man. I feel the author did a great job of keeping the reader organized in thought and understanding throughout the book.
February 10, 2018
I loved this book! It integrates medicine, politics, history and human emotion into a biography of a fascinating man.
May 14, 2020
The title was what had initially interested me with the reference to JFK. But wow, this man was extremely interesting and lived about 3 lives in the span of his lifetime. I loved this book.
March 14, 2021
Unexpected book
This book was very slow and not what I expected to begin with. I thought it was more about what was wrong with Kennedy but was pleasantly surprised.
This book was very slow and not what I expected to begin with. I thought it was more about what was wrong with Kennedy but was pleasantly surprised.
November 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I'm going to check out the exercises for myself! What a remarkable man Hans Kraus was!
November 22, 2022
Wow How do I not know about this guy. Riviting story about a remarkable man that did so much for so many
July 24, 2024
An incredible history of a man who pioneered both climbing and movement as medicine. A must read for any climber and/or those who have dedicated their lives to orthopaedics
February 28, 2022
I found this work to be an interesting read. It took me some time to become comfortable with the writer's style of writing short chapters but as the story unfolded and the rich story line developed, this became much less of an issue. A must read for anyone contemplating back surgery!
July 12, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Fair warning, some of the climbing sections are a little unnecessarily detailed for those who aren't into the sport and it's not about JFK (he's only in it for a few chapters), but Hans Kraus is interesting enough on his own and worth persevering for.
I had not idea that until the late 40's back pain and bad posture were virtually unheard of complaints. And if Kraus was right, medicine is still treating the problem incorrectly. I had to laugh at the 'tests' in the back of the book that Kraus used to give to find out if his patients muscles met minimum standards. Even just reading them over I know I would fail almost all of them, although I'm in reasonable shape. It gave me a different perspective on what 'fit' meant back in the day and just how far standards had fallen.
Highly recommend for those interested in medicine, history, or rock climbing.
I had not idea that until the late 40's back pain and bad posture were virtually unheard of complaints. And if Kraus was right, medicine is still treating the problem incorrectly. I had to laugh at the 'tests' in the back of the book that Kraus used to give to find out if his patients muscles met minimum standards. Even just reading them over I know I would fail almost all of them, although I'm in reasonable shape. It gave me a different perspective on what 'fit' meant back in the day and just how far standards had fallen.
Highly recommend for those interested in medicine, history, or rock climbing.
November 16, 2016
En tant que grimpeur et ostéopathe, ce livre rejoignait plusieurs de mes intérêts. Ayant grimpé dans les Gunks à plusieurs reprises, j'ai beaucoup apprécié l'histoire au tour de la découverte et de l'ouverture de ce terrain de jeux.
J'ai apprécié la partie sur la carrière médicale de Hans quoi que l'on perçoive assez clairement le biais de l'auteur qui a été traité par celui-ci. En tant qu'ostéopathe, je suis toujours un peu sceptique des recettes miracles tel que décrit dans ce livre. Je suis par contre certain qu'il était un professionnel très compétent et en avant sur son temps.
Je recommande chaudement ce livre qui se veut une inspiration pour les grimpeurs et les thérapeutes en tout genre. Hans Kraus était une personne intègre et authentique. J'aurais bien aimé prendre une bière en sa compagnie
J'ai apprécié la partie sur la carrière médicale de Hans quoi que l'on perçoive assez clairement le biais de l'auteur qui a été traité par celui-ci. En tant qu'ostéopathe, je suis toujours un peu sceptique des recettes miracles tel que décrit dans ce livre. Je suis par contre certain qu'il était un professionnel très compétent et en avant sur son temps.
Je recommande chaudement ce livre qui se veut une inspiration pour les grimpeurs et les thérapeutes en tout genre. Hans Kraus était une personne intègre et authentique. J'aurais bien aimé prendre une bière en sa compagnie
January 8, 2015
This was an incredible and unexpected story. As other reviewers have mentioned--the JFK title is a little misleading since JFK only accounted for a subset of this book and a couple of years of Kraus's 9 decades. Nevertheless, the story of Hans Kraus' life and his impact of medicine far surpassed anything the title could have described. Kraus' improbable story, his influence on changing how clinicians engage with injuries by prescribing movement rather than rest, his struggle to succeed--what an exciting book.
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June 19, 2016I really enjoyed reading about Dr. Hans Kraus and his very important contributions to an understanding about health and healing. He discovered that movement is essential for healing. My masseuse does trigger point work and it always makes a huge difference. Now I understand what trigger points are. I am very interested in his fitness plan.
He was an important rock climber and there was a lot about rock climbing. I was semi-interested in those aspects of the book, but the other part was such great information for me. I just read very quickly and even skimmed some parts about climbing.
He was an important rock climber and there was a lot about rock climbing. I was semi-interested in those aspects of the book, but the other part was such great information for me. I just read very quickly and even skimmed some parts about climbing.
August 1, 2018
Loved this book about the father of sports medicine, and the person who helped JFK get relief from his terrible back problems with his exercise program. He contributed the to initiation of the President's Fitness program for school children. Really a good story!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews