JFK Myths: A Scientific Investigation of the Kennedy Assassination [Paperback]

Larry Sturdivan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2005

“This is one of the most important books on the Kennedy assassination ever written¼. Readers will not only understand the simplicity of the JFK assassination, but also the proper way of investigating it.” —Dr. Ken Rahn, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry Emeritus University of Rhode Island “This is an excellent book that I recommend without any hesitation. It is the only book to address the firearms and ballistic aspects of the JFK assassination in a logical, knowledgeable and scientific manner. It dispels the myths and falsehoods that have either grown up or been generated about the weapon, and the wounds. Anyone interested in the Kennedy assassination must have a copy of this book.”—Dr. Vincent DiMaio, Nationally recognized JFK expert and Medical Examiner of Bexar County, Texas“A breakthrough work¼the written record on this subject is begging for more authoritative work like this. The manner in which Sturdivan presents this new information is extremely effective. Besides having a wealth of scientific knowledge, he is truly a skillful writer.”—John Canal, author of Silencing the Lone Assassin“The collision between the advocacy method and the scientific method of solving cases is a key factor in understanding our times. Larry Sturdivan shows how it played out in promoting doubts about one of the most notorious 20th century crimes.”—William K. Hartmann, Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, and Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science>

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is one of the most important books on the Kennedy assassination ever written." -Dr. Ken Rahn, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry Emeritus, University of Rhode Island "The written record on this subject is begging for more authoritative work like this." -John Canal, author, Silencing the Lone Assassin

About the Author

LARRY STURDIVAN graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in physics in 1961. On November 22, 1963 (the day of the Kennedy assassination), he accepted a job involving wound ballistics from the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where he observed ballistic tests conducted at the Biophysics Laboratory of Edgewood Arsenal during the Warren Commission’s investigation. In 1978, as a senior researcher, he became the Army’s contact with the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) as they reinvestigated the case. He testified extensively about the wound-ballistics aspects of the assassination. >

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Paragon House (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557788472
• ISBN-13: 978-1557788474
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best book on the technical aspects of the assassination, November 13, 2005

By 

Joseph R. Elliott (Walnut Creek, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: JFK Myths: A Scientific Investigation of the Kennedy Assassination (Paperback)

I like this book quite a bit. It is the best book on the technical aspects of this case.

On the whole, I think he provides a scenario with some minor improvements over Gerald Posner's "Case Closed" scenario. It does make more sense to me if James Tague was wounded from a fragment from the third and final shot, if only because the sixth floor window, the position of the limousine at frame 313 and James Tague form a pretty straight line on a map, all that's needed is to have a fragment deflected slightly upwards and to the right to reach Mr. Tague. More importantly, Mr. Sturdivan makes a good case that the first bullet was probably fired too soon to have hit the tree. Using the "Jiggle Analysis" pins down the timing of the shots more accurately, I think.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All your questions answered; the mystery solved..., July 1, 2011

By 

Rodolfo Lazo de la Vega - See all my reviews

This review is from: JFK Myths: A Scientific Investigation of the Kennedy Assassination (Paperback)

"The JFK Myths" is a scientific analysis of the evidence in the JFK assassination. As such it is a very different type of book than Gerald Posner's "Case Closed." One here will learn little about the psychology and motive of the participants but it is without a doubt, in its marshaling of evidence, a more convincing book than the vast majority of other books with a non-conspiracy thesis. No one reading "The JFK Myths" with an open mind can conclude other than that there was only one single gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, who acted alone and unaided.

So why do so many people believe that there was a conspiracy in the assassination of President Kennedy? While there are a fair share of loons attracted to this case the questions most ask are legitimate. How could a bullet have gone through both Kennedy and Connally and come out only slightly deformed? Why did certain witnesses believe that the shots came from the grassy knoll? Why did the President's head move violently back and to the left instead of forward when it was hit? Sturdivan convincingly answers all of these questions and more.

The author takes us through the importance of understanding velocity and density when discussing bullet deformation. As the single bullet went through JFK and Connally it tumbled and lost velocity so that by the time it hit Connally's rib it was moving at a decreased speed capable of shattering bone but only slightly deforming the bullet. By the time it hit the wrist it had even less velocity. Sturdivan also takes on the myth that a bullet has the energy needed to violently push back a person's head. He discusses the experiments which prove JFK's head movement was neuro-muscular in nature.

Sturdivan argues that a close study of the Zapruder film locates the three shots at frames Z-152/53. 221/222. and 312. He does this on the basis of a jiggle analysis of the film and the recognition that there is a five to six frame lapse between the time of the shots and Zapruder's startled reactions. Contrary to conspiracy narratives that postulate a much shorter timeframe, the assassin had almost nine seconds to aim and fire twice after the first shot. The large jiggle that begins at Z-190 has often been used as evidence of a shot by a second assassin since Oswald's view from the Texas Schoolbook Despository at the time was blocked by a tree but Sturdivan convincingly argues that a reaction at 190 would have to have originated from a shot fired a few frames earlier. Neither JFK or Connally show any reaction to a bullet at that time. The jiggle at 190 is thus a tracking error caused by the fact that the limousine just then disappears behind the signpost. A first missed shot at Z-152/153 fits in perfectly with the reactions and testimony of Connally and Rosemary Willis, the little girl in the red dress. The bulge in Governor Connally's lapel at frame-224 also corresponds to a shot at 221-222 because a bulge in clothing would peak two frames *after* the bullet hit.

The most interesting part of the book for me was the author's defense of the original autopsy pathologists' location of the fatal wound of entrance four inches below where the entrance wound was placed by the Clark Panel (1968), the Rockefeller Commission (1975) and the HSCA Forensic Pathology Panel (1978). He believes that their error was based on a misinterpretation of the X-rays and the erroneous belief that the point of exit would extend from a straight line from the point of entrance. Rather, Sturdivan argues that the bullet entered lower in the back of the skull and then underwent a curved trajectory where is burst out in pieces higher up the front side of the skull. Pieces of the bullet fragments then hit the windshield while one fragment left the car to slightly injure citizen Jim Tague.

One of my criticisms of Gerald Posner's "Case Closed" is that Posner has a habit of only going after the kookier conspiracy theorists like Jim Garrison or Jim Marrs. Sturdivan, on the other hand, seems much more familiar with the more convincing conspiracy arguments and disproves them one by one. Heard the one that says the bullet fragments tested by the HSCA did not match the weight of the fragments as originally measured during the time of the Warren Commission? Sturdivan has, too, and discusses it. What about that impossible theory postulated by Harold Weisberg and Cyril Wecht that JFK was hit in the head by a frangible bullet at the same exact time as he was hit in the back of the head? That's covered, too. With the single exception of Vincent Bugliosi's "Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy," Larry M. Sturdivan's "The JFK Myths: A Scientific Investigation of the Kennedy Assassination" is the best book on the topic that I have read. Once you have finished reading it you will be certain that the mysteries of this case have been resolved.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An expert view worth reading., March 26, 2007

By 

Patrick Collins "pdm collins" (England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: JFK Myths: A Scientific Investigation of the Kennedy Assassination (Paperback)

There must surely be a conspiracy to not review this book favourably ! It is outstanding and one of the very best on this subject.
Several of the more recent books on the JFK assassination have been written by legal, ballistics and medical experts rather than journalists seeking fame and fortune. For that reason much that was considered as conspiracy "gospel" in this case has been debunked in recent years. Mr. Sturdivan is an expert in his field and his conclusions come with a weight and persuasion that leaves the competition from the pro conspiracy side of the fence literally standing.
I have read over 300 books on this subject, I used to believe in a conspiracy and still take an active interest in the subject. This book was the one that finally convinced me that all the shots were fired from above and behind and that they were fired by Oswald. Forget the grassy knoll - it's a huge red herring. Concentrate on the best evidence - the film, medical and ballistics. Read this book and put the case to rest.