The Good Son: JFK Jr. and the Mother He Loved

I've read a lot of books on the Kennedys, but this book has to be one of my new favorites. It's told with such heart, and feels so intimate that I feel as if I(and several other billion people) know them like my own family. In this book I really got to know Jackie and how she brought up her two children with such class against impossible odds.Our tabloids are filled with stories of the children of the 'rich and famous' and Caroline and John managed to live relatively normal lives with a strong emphasis on giving back. It's a shame we lost John so early, but I had the privilege of hearing him debating Rush Limbaugh on the radio one day and while no one was told who John was until afterwards, I was impressed with the caller's ability to debate Rush with reason and well-stated facts.What I read in Andersen's book rings true as to the man I heard on the radio that day. This was no play-boy millionaire just whooping it up, John truly cared about others and devoted his life to bringing information to the masses via his magazine. Face it, John was ridiculously handsome, and rich enough to never really have to work, and one of the most famous men of our century, yet he chose to work and help others.I believe that this all came from his mother. I didn't have to read a book to know that Jackie was a great mother, the proof is in her two children. Just look at the other Kennedy children and you can see what a fine job she did. John never raped anyone, overdosed on drugs, or just plain embarrassed himself with affairs and wives who committed suicide.This book gives you a peek into what Jackie did right to raise such a wonderful son, a man we lost all too soon.

I'm all about "all things Kennedy" and thisbook certainly delivered. I like Mr Andersens writing style and he made it so easy to curl up and immerse myself in whatever page I happened to be reading. It takes a certain gift for an author, without the reader knowing, to gently take the readers hand and bring them in between the pages to allow the reader to look around and be right next to his subject and experience everything firsthand. This author has that gift in spades! I'm getting ready to read Jack and Jackie and I'm quite sure I'll enjoy it every bit as much! Thank you for such a well written and thoughtful book about Americas Prince!

I like it but again, I was shocked at the truth about the Kennedys and their lack of morals, delving into drugs, doing selfish thingsto people. I know John loved his mom but he didn't end up giving her the one request she asked of him --not to fly. He did itand unfortunately, it cost his life as well as his wife and sister-in-law. Another irresponsible act. Jackie tried to shield him fromthe Kennedys but he had his share of wild, crazy, irresponsible things he did himself, she should have concerned herself with what he was doing. He didn't need to stay away from the Kennedy cousins. Sadly, the one thing she asked him not to do, he brokehis promise to his mom and did it anyway and flying killed not only himself, but his wife and sister-in-law. What a waste. If onlyhe would have listened to his mom......

The book was great but shows that 1 child will always be the favoured child especially as the family has a curse on it. She didn't want the same thing to happen but it's unfortunate that he didn't live much after his mother's death. Very poignant and as history shows, lives can have all the twists and turns that are hopefully most having death knock at the door even thou he's very strong willed to learn that death comes more quickly than ex.

Writing this book was a good idea - a lucrative one (and I mean that as a compliment). I've read a lot of books on the Kennedys, but had not seen one on just Jackie and JFK jr. Mr. Andersen has written a lot of things about the Kennedys, and though he certainly writes well I did not come across very much that was new to me. I kept feeling as if he was pulling old research from his files and re-copying it here. There was a lot more written about Jackie than her son. I did not come away feeling as if the author delivered what he led readers to believe the book contained. I did not finish the book feeling that I was familiar with the mother and son relationship. There was more he could have written about JFK jr but maybe missed things doing what new research he or any employee(s) of his had to do. Glaringly lacking was the absence of much info on John's wife and her sister, Lauren. I think this contained more about Daryl Hannah than his wife and sister-in-law. Congratulations, Mr. Andersen, on what is probably a commercial success. A good idea for a book does not necessarily make it a critical success.

While I think most of us; of a certain age, have read just about everything on the Kennedy's, this book takes us on another track. I really enjoyed it and learned a few new things. Her throwing a prince a birthday party with candles that kept re-lighting was not something I would have thought Jackie would have done. I have read many Kennedy books but never knew the name of the stillborn daughter before. I thought the openness of the content was good, i.e., comments about her and RFK, and while I think everyone knew it, the book has more details and they were done in a respectful manner. I had a hard time putting this book down. One thing I did not like though, was there were numerous typos. Editor Jackie would not have approved!

a good read. it tells you eveyrthing and more about jackie and john. i enjoyed every minute of the book.

This was a gift for my mother, but my sister (who is a huge Kennedy fan) who grabbed the book, read it, loved it and then passed it along to mother.

An okay read.

Anything on the Kennedys, I love.

Well written. Loved it