The JFK Assassination: The Facts and Theories (Signet) [Paperback]

Carl Oglesby (Author), Norman Mailer (Preface)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet (May 3, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451174763
• ISBN-13: 978-0451174765
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #674,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Collection of Essays and Journalism, September 2, 2001

By 

Barnaby (Wappingers Falls, NY, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The JFK Assassination: The Facts and Theories (Signet) (Paperback)

First, it must be said that this book is misleadingly packaged. The cover copy promises a disinterested, comprehensive overview of the JFK assassination and all the competing theories of how it happened. Instead, it's a collection of essays, journalism, and reviews spanning two decades, covering the assassination in particular and secret government in general, written by a left-leaning political analyst who presents his own ideas and opinions (except for a truly perfunctory afterword entitled, all-too-aptly, "Round up the Usual Suspects").

As such, however, it is an excellent book. If you've never read Carl Oglesby, you should try him. His work is characterized by laser-like intelligence and crystalline, energetic writing. He is always a pleasure to read. If I had to characterize him in terms of better known writers, I'd call him a cross between Robert Christgau and Renata Adler (in terms of both content -- Christgau for politics, Adler for analytic ability -- and style).

This is an ideal starting place. After this, scramble to find a copy of The Yankee and Cowboy War, his major work. For me at least, the lack of a steadily accumulating body of work by Oglesby over the last two decades is a gap in our national intellectual life. With any luck, the Y2K coup will get him writing again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good overview of the case (up to 1992), February 20, 2007

By 

Vince Palamara "SECRET SERVICE/JFK/STEELERS/M... (South Park/Bethel Park, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The JFK Assassination: The Facts and Theories (Signet) (Paperback)

As the leading civilian authority on the U.S. Secret Service (and President Kennedy's interaction with the agency), I was much interested in this book by Carl Oglesby. Oglesby is to be commended for a very well written and put together work. That said, it is a little dated, what with the advent of the ARRB and all the work that has come out in the last 15 years or so. Still, a decent book. Vince Palamara

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Oh Boy...!, December 14, 2008

By 

Christopher (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The JFK Assassination: The Facts and Theories (Signet) (Paperback)

I bought this on the advice of a JFK researcher and he said that this was one of those to get. You don't need this book. It offers nothing new. Not another perspective, no new info, nothing needed in reading this book. If you need some books, go with Jim Marrs' "Crossfire," Jim Garrison's "On the Trail of the Assassins," Gaeton Fonzi's "The Last Investigation" and Anthony Summers "Not in Your Lifetime." Those books draw it all together and offer a lot of first-hand knowledge.

This book is poorly written, not cohesive and offers nothing at all but another writer's outline of other writer's work. Who needs it?