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Jack: A Life Like No Other
Geoffrey Perret Book Review

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Plot Summary of Jack: A Life Like No Other
"Perret offers a fine one-volume biography of John F. Kennedy. JFK aficionadoes may not be impressed, but this is a good book for the casual admirer or mildly interested party. What struck this reader, more than the many sexual conquests and Kennedy's somewhat entrenched Cold War mentality, was how many times he came close to dying, throughout his life -- three times, at least, even before he was out of high school. No matter what else one might think of him, the tremendous personal courage of the man, his drive and hunger to succeed in the face of sizable odds, parents who were cold and sparing of their love, and almost unending physical pain, is impressive."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Jack: A Life Like No Other
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - politician
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Politician story? - Politician trying to reform
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Age: - 20's-30's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other people
Physique - physically sick

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Water? Yes
Water: - swimming on - lost at sea
City? Yes
City: - Washington D.C. - Boston
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 1930's-1950's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Commentary on society? Yes
Commentary on - love/sex - decency - selfishness - war
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of nearly entire life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story? - 0-25% of book
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An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 by Robert Dallek
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