REVIEW: Reading this book (643 pages) is quite an
undertaking! Happily, I thought it was
well worth my time. I have always been
interested in the Kennedys but did not know much about Winston Churchill and
his family. I enjoyed reading a
different perspective on the Kennedys, focusing more on Joe Sr. and the early
career of JFK, paired with the Churchill family. At times I thought FDR should be added to the
title as he and his family had a significant part. The book presented an interesting history of
England and America’s part in WWII through the story of the two men and their
families. I thought there were other
themes presented that are worthy of thought such as parenting and encouraging
sons, family loyalty, fidelity in marriage, and loyalty to country. Especially noting the 100+ pages of notes and
references, this was an extremely well researched book. Many of the people in the book voraciously
read history and it was reported how that reading affected their future
lives. I think this book should be
included in the list of history books that would change your view history and
life. I received a complimentary copy of this book
in exchange for this review.
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Kennedys
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Churchills
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Roosevelts
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Joseph P. Kennedy – father
Rose – mother
Joe Jr. – killed in war
JFK – president, assassinated
Robert - assassinated
Kathleen – Kick – killed in England
Rosemary – unsuccessful lobotomy
Jacqueline – JFK’s wife
Caroline – daughter
John Jr. - son
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Sir Winston Churchill
Clementine
Randolph
Diana
Sarah
Mary
Pamela – Randolph’s first wife
Winston – son
June – Randolph’s second wife
Arabella – daughter
Lord Randolph Churchill – Winston’s father
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
James Roosevelt
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Others
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Friends of Kennedy and Churchill:
Lord Beaverbrook – Max
Bernard Baruch
Kay Halle
Clare Booth Luce
Evelyn Waugh
Aristotle Onassis
David Ormsby-Gore
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For discussion:
NOTE: All page numbers refer to paperback edition of the book.
- Discuss the relationship between fathers and sons, particularly how Kennedy and Churchill’s parenting differed (page 636). The author made the point that both Jimmy Roosevelt and Randolph Churchill had more challenges due to their fathers being famous and not having much time for them compared to Kennedy who micromanaged the raising of his sons. Do you think Randolph would have found more of the success he wanted if he had been born a Kennedy?
- How do you think Winston’s relationship with his father influenced his parenting of Randolph? On page 20 the author wrote about how Lord Randolph’s remoteness affected Winston as a child compared to page 36 where he wrote “much of Randolph’s egotism has to be blamed on a great man’s tendency to pander to his beautiful only son.”
- Can you understand Joe Sr. blaming Churchill for Joe Jr.’s death?
- Discuss the continuous references to private reading, particularly JFK’s reading Churchill’s book, The World Crisis, as a teenager. How do the reading choices of the people in the book compare to our choices today? Have you read any books that greatly influenced your life?
- Were you surprised about all of the affairs, in many cases out in the open and with knowledge of one or more spouses? Winston (page 593) was apparently the only person in the book who was faithful to his spouse.
- Were you able to keep everyone and their marriages straight?
- Discuss the friendship between Evelyn Waugh and Randolph. Were they good friends?
- On page 110 the author wrote, “Adversity, not advantage, had been most character-forming for Winston.” Discuss how both adversity and advantage affected everyone in the book – particularly the sons.
- Why do you think Joe Kennedy Sr. was so clueless that he didn’t know his negative comments before and during the war were being forwarded to other people? In particular Kennedy was watched by British intelligence when he returned to America (page 301).
- Churchill was a scholar of history. On page 328 the author wrote that, “History provided perspective when faced with many frustrations” and at another point wrote that Churchill knew from studying US history that we are slow to enter a conflict but when did, did so wholeheartedly. Did reading this book change your view of studying and reading history?
- Reading this book was quite an undertaking. Did you think it was a worthwhile use of your time? Why or why not?
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com. Click on the upper right link.
