Customer Reviews

Patrick Kennedy: The Rise to Power

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I expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised to get the best. This book by Prof. West is a fair, in-depth and thoughtful account of a young "celebrity" politician who challenged himself to succeed and so far is doing a pretty good job at it, according to Prof. West. The book gives an in-depth look at the early struggles of Patrick Kennedy, son of the famous Senator Ted Kennedy (and his likeable mom, Joan) and heir to the Kennedy fame. It chronicles the family and public life of this young man's rise to poltical power (number 5 Democrat in the House of Representatives yet he is only in his early 30's).

What I liked most about this book is that it was not a typical knee-jerk analysis of the Kennedy's and I felt truly showed Patrick Kennedy as a human being, committed public servant and rising star. Hats off to Prof. West for his research, his fair analysis, and his ability to tell a good story.

This book provides a highly readable account of the Kennedy's political operation. Generally sympathetic to the family, but hard-hitting at times. Good stories from people who have worked for the Kennedys as well as those who have opposed them. The average person would like this book!

I was initially alarmed at the slender length of the book, and had braced myself for choppy reading and hurried accounts. I was glad I kept an open mind, because this book easily surpased all of my content expectations.

West neither massacres nor coddles his subject, and I could actually identify with some of Kennedy's emotions and struggles to define himself. As a college student, I was very impressed that he was in the legislature while finishing up his degree---no easy feat in a state of any size. His personal health led him to identify with the disadvantaged and disempowered.

Tracing his childhood and young adulthood, West shows how the "un-Kennedy" Kennedy emerged to become the chair of the DCCC. For a public figure, Kennedy has managed to keep his life largely private and scandal free. He does not engage in the life style that has created headlines for so many other members of the family.

Although I am more partial to his father's voting record, I respect the niche Kennedy carved out on his own terms and was impressed with the many different things he had accomplished. This book is especially inspirational for young democratic politicians.

As a New Englander who is attending school in Rhode Island, I had hoped that this book would provide me with some interesting information on a little-understood political figure making a quite a rise through the ranks of the Democratic Party.

Boy, did I pick the wrong book.

First of all, West has no writing ability whatsoever. His vulgar, crass style is not appreciated and is wholly inappropriate. Frequently laughable, his "prose" disqualifies himself as any sort of an expert on the subject matter.

Second, the book is so fiercely partisan that it is factually incorrect throughout. It appears to this reader that West has little understanding of political issues and even less of how to explain political matters to an audience. This book was little more than preaching to the way-outside-the-mainstream radical leftist crowd. As a political independent, this book was too polarizing to be informative.

Third, there are many things Patrick Kennedy is and an angel is not one of them. How anyone can pretend that Kennedy's long history of reckless behavior is either a coincidence or is otherwise not his fault is foolishly naive. I think there has to come a point where West is going to have to accept that Patrick Kennedy might not be the unfortunate saint he believes him to be.

Bottom line: This was the worst book I have ever read. Where I had hoped to find intelligent, insightful commentary, I found a book that was vulgar and ridiculous with a gaping hole where integrity should be. I cannot imagine a publisher actually deciding to publish this book and I wish Mr. West would learn some manners and writing skills. Note to West: Partisan cheap shots do not equal quality writing outside of Brown University.