Customer Reviews

We'll Never Be Young Again: Remembering the Last Days of John F. Kennedy

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Growing up I remember two prominent portraits on the wall of my home. Jesus and JFK. I almost didn't read this book. I felt I already knew everything there was to know about that fateful day and I didn't want to remember the painful details. But I did and I don't regret a minute of it. This book is filled with vivid recollections from a cross-section of people that moved me from tears to laughter with a flip of a page. I found the narrative fresh and the timeline helpful. I know what I'm buying my loved ones for Christmas -- this book!

The collaborative effort of Chuck Fries, Irv Wilson, and Spencer Green, "We'll Never Be Young Again": Remembering The Last Days of John F. Kennedy combines history, narratives, and personal testimonies of the final days of America's 35th President. Over 125 letters written by notable individuals such as Senator John Kerry, Jerry Lewis, Dominick Dunne, Liz Smith and more offer a compelling, collective human testimony to the loss of a charismatic, strong-willed and truly unforgettable and martyred "Camelot" era political leader. "We'll Never Be Young Again" is a superb and highly commended contribution to the growing library books on and about JFK.

I thoroughly enjoyed the many comments by people great and small on their remembrances of November 22, 1963. This well-written narrative of the last days of JFK also provided some unusual comments and insights from friends of JFK from Robert McNamara to Jerry Lewis that I had not read before, as well as the the feelings of shock and despair that prevailed with ordinary people on hearing the horrific news of the assasination. This book has certainly supplemented my information on this well documented tragedy.

I was moved and emotionally caught up in the great memories of JFK and Camelot from the thoughts and stories of the many great people interviewed here. The selections here are terrific, and rather than the oft-told, dry history of our greatest president, the personal reflections that are recounted in the excellent book reflect who what and where we were as a country then, what we lost, and what we can aspire to be in the future. An amazing book.

This book has one inconsistency I found so far. Aaron Spelling states that his boss, Dick Powell, informed him on November 22, 1963 that President Kennedy was shot. That is impossible since Dick Powell died in January of 1963. I am surprised the authors, Chuck Fries, Irv Wilson and Spencer Gree, did not know that fact. And I am surprised at Aaron Spelling. He must have gotten Dick Powell mixed up with another person at Four Star where he worked.

This isn't really my kind of book, but it's nicely crafted and attractive to flip through. I bought copies for my grandparents for Christmas.