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The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Nasaw (Author), Malcolm Hillgartner (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
4.4 out of 5 stars 900 ratings
Editors' pick Best Biographies & Memoirs

Celebrated historian David Nasaw brings to life the story of Joseph Patrick Kennedy, in this, the first and only biography based on unrestricted and exclusive access to the Joseph P. Kennedy papers.

Joseph Patrick Kennedy - whose life spanned the First World War, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the Cold War - was the patriarch of America’s greatest political dynasty. The father of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy, 'Joe' Kennedy was an indomitable and elusive figure whose dreams of advancement for his nine children were matched only by his extraordinary personal ambition and shrewd financial skills. Trained as a banker, Kennedy was also a Hollywood mogul, a stock-exchange savant, a shipyard manager, the founding chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and ambassador to London during the Battle of Britain. Though his incredible life encompasses the very heart of the American century, Joseph Kennedy has remained shrouded in rumor and prejudice for decades.

Drawing on never-before-published material from archives on three continents, David Nasaw - the renowned biographer of Andrew Carnegie and William Randolph Hearst - unearths a man far more complicated than the popular portrait. Was Kennedy an appeaser and isolationist, an anti-Semite and Nazi sympathizer, a stock swindler, a bootlegger, and a colleague of mobsters? Did he push his second son into politics and then buy his elections for him? Why did he have his daughter Rosemary lobotomized? Why did he oppose the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the Korean War, and American assistance to the French in Vietnam? What was his relationship to J. Edgar Hoover and his FBI? How did he influence his son’s politics and policies in the White House?

In this groundbreaking biography, Nasaw ignores the tired old answers surrounding Kennedy, starting from scratch to discover the truth behind this misunderstood man.

Though far from a saint, Joseph Kennedy in many ways exemplifies the best in American political, economic, and social life. His rags-to-riches story is one of exclusion and quiet discrimination overcome by entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and unshakable endurance. Kennedy’s story deserves to be told in full, with no holds barred, and Nasaw’s magnificent The Patriarch is the first book to do so.

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  1. Listening Length
    30 hours and 55 minutes
  2. Author
    David Nasaw
  3. Narrator
    Malcolm Hillgartner
  4. Audible release date
    November 13, 2012
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B00A2ZITGA
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 30 hours and 55 minutes
Author David Nasaw
Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 13, 2012
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00A2ZITGA
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
900 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this biography compelling and well-researched, with one review noting it reads like a gripping historical novel. The book provides a comprehensive view of the Kennedy family, and one customer describes it as a must-read for those wanting the truth. Customers praise the writing quality, with one noting how it brings history to life through well-crafted words. While customers appreciate the wonderful-revealing portrait of Joseph Kennedy, they find the book very long.

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ReadabilityBiographyWriting qualityFamily historyStory qualityPicture qualityLength
171 customers mention "Readability"171 positive0 negative

Customers find the book compelling and worth their time, with one customer noting it reads like a gripping historical novel.

"...- has harbored a lifelong fascination with the Kennedys, this book is like a primer. An extremely well-written and astonishingly detailed work." Read more

"...Nasaw then transforms it into a 750 page book that reads like a gripping historical novel. Rather than outline J P Kennedy's life, as..." Read more

"...Remarkably attentive and loving as a father, he lived apart from his wife Rose and had numerous girlfriends...." Read more

"This hugely entertaining and thought provoking book correctly describes some of the positive qualities of an amazing person who:..." Read more

118 customers mention "Biography"115 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate this biography of Joseph P. Kennedy, describing it as a remarkable and fascinating account of his life and times.

"...I was struck - and really quite touched - by Kennedy's unstinting devotion to his family...." Read more

"...Nonetheless, this biography is a winner, and has increased my understanding of a complex man who played an important role in the history of the last..." Read more

"Nasaw has made a great contribution to academic biography and, at the same time, provided the public with a very readable story of one of the 20th..." Read more

"...He did not betray Ted's trust and told an American story. The narrative is well written, amply documented, with some previously unpublished photos...." Read more

74 customers mention "Writing quality"67 positive7 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as a well-written biography that is easy to read, with one customer noting it reads like a long Vanity Fair article.

"...34;The Patriarch" is a massive tome (almost 800 pages), a monumental undertaking and a magnificent achievement...." Read more

"...Nonetheless, I can't resist a good, long, well-researched biography, particularly about someone who, like Kennedy, played an important role in the..." Read more

"...What is so good about this book, is the lack of sensationalism, and the author's willingness to comment on differences he has found in his research..." Read more

"...The research is detailed and richly footnoted...." Read more

40 customers mention "Family history"40 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's comprehensive view of the Kennedy family and their strong personalities, with one customer noting it provides great insight into their family life.

"...JPK was such an interesting person and lived such a varied life - it's hard not to be fascinated...." Read more

"...It's been praised for humanizing Joe Kennedy as a driven, up-from-nowhere Irish American and as a devoted father, brilliant investor, and peerless..." Read more

"...(astounding, with complete cooperation from the Kennedy family)..." Read more

"...To my surprise I discovered a compassionate, flaw but very humane person. A real person. Not the caricature or monster he's been made up to be...." Read more

30 customers mention "Story quality"30 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's narrative style, describing it as a full and rounded account of Joseph P. Kennedy's life.

"...He did not betray Ted's trust and told an American story. The narrative is well written, amply documented, with some previously unpublished photos...." Read more

"...JPK was such an interesting person and lived such a varied life - it's hard not to be fascinated...." Read more

"This is the extraordinary story of the incredible life of Joseph P. Kennedy...." Read more

"...Nasaw provides the full picture of the man with a great, narrative style...." Read more

28 customers mention "Picture quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the picture quality of the book, describing it as a wonderfully-revealing portrait that fills out the picture beautifully.

"...This is a great portrayal of a man that was certainly flawed, but the book highlights and explains everything that was Joe Kennedy: a man of..." Read more

"...Joe was ambitious, intelligent, suave, charming, clever, business-minded and a dedicated family man whose main purpose in life was to provide for..." Read more

"...Nasaw provides the full picture of the man with a great, narrative style...." Read more

"...It is a warts-and-all portrait, all the more intriguing since Nasaw worked with immediate Kennedy family members...." Read more

15 customers mention "Length"0 positive15 negative

Customers find the book's length excessive, with multiple reviews noting it is 100 pages too long.

"...This book was long-winded to the max; it really is a doorstop...." Read more

"...The book can be plodding at times, and is probably at least 100 pages too long" Read more

"...Only criticism was it was perhaps too long and too detailed" Read more

"Long book and a bit self serving but it goes a long way to explain the man, his family and his successes and failures." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • LauraLMHS
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Kennedys: This is where it all began
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2014
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    If the story of the Kennedy dynasty were not true, some brilliant and highly imaginative fiction writer would sooner or later concoct it. It would be terrific fodder for a good old-fashioned television mini-series, although it would no doubt be faulted for being too unrealistic and far-fetched.

    In current usage, "amazing" is the most over-taxed word in the English language, but - truly - the history of this family is nothing short of "amazing."

    "The Patriarch" is the story of Joseph P. Kennedy, the progenitor of a political empire. Joseph P., of Irish descent, was not the first Kennedy who trod these shores, but it is with this remarkable figure that the story really begins.

    Although not exactly born into poverty (his father was a small-time local Boston politician), Joseph P. was the epitome of the self-made man and, to that extent, this is a uniquely American saga. (Note: It didn’t hurt that he married very well, to the daughter of the mayor of Boston.)

    Joseph P. Kennedy had an unparalleled career and is, arguably, one of the most fascinating personages in the history of the U.S....certainly in the history of capitalism. And it is all laid out in painstaking, well-researched detail in this marvelous masterpiece.

    In the course of a mind-bogglingly varied and ambition-driven career - which involved banking, Hollywood and film-making, a position with the Federal Maritime Commission, Wall Street and stock brokerage, a presidency at the newly formed Securities and Exchange Commission, and [...stop to catch breath...] an American ambassadorship to Great Britain during one of the most dramatic periods of history - Kennedy amassed great wealth and became filthy rich back in the day when being filthy rich really meant something.

    Upon retiring from public life, he worked diligently behind the scenes to push his sons toward success. Reading the last few chapters of this book and about the jaw-dropping tragedies that befell the clan (especially Joe Jr., Rosemary, “Kick,” Jack and Bobby), I couldn't help thinking about literary themes such as "hubris" and the "sins of the fathers." Even the fable of Icarus - who dreamed of flying to the sun but, alas, came too close - entered my mind.

    Throughout my reading of this book, I was struck - and really quite touched - by Kennedy's unstinting devotion to his family. How a man with his schedule and responsibilities found the time to sit down and actually compose letters to his nine children from whatever part of the country (or world) he happened to be in at that time just defies belief. (Imagine a busy parent doing anything so "quaint" in today's world.) These letters supply much of the raw material for this opus.

    "The Patriarch" is a massive tome (almost 800 pages), a monumental undertaking and a magnificent achievement. My only complaint was that it sometimes got bogged down in arcane economics and politics that put it beyond the reach of ordinary humans like me, but that says more about my own shortcomings than any shortcomings of this impressive work.

    In his introduction, author David Nasaw explains how the Kennedy family approached him to write this book about their…well…patriarch. That being the case, no doubt the author had access to materials (personal letters in particular) that would not have otherwise been available. I suspect, on the other hand, that because he knew where his bread was buttered, so to speak, the author may have been guilty of a certain amount of white-washing vis-à-vis the allegations of bootlegging, insider trading, influence-peddling and mob dealings that plagued and perhaps tarnished Kennedy's legend.

    Bottom line: For anyone who - like myself - has harbored a lifelong fascination with the Kennedys, this book is like a primer. An extremely well-written and astonishingly detailed work.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • RCTNYC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Learned About the Times and the Man
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2012
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I hesitated to buy this book, because I knew about Kennedy's clashes with Roosevelt and Churchill during the Second World War, and willingness to negotiate with Hitler, and such behavior and attitudes were repugnant to me. Nonetheless, I can't resist a good, long, well-researched biography, particularly about someone who, like Kennedy, played an important role in the New Deal. I was pleasantly surprised to find this biography to be objective, informative and no hagiography. While the author clearly does not dislike Kennedy, he pulls no punches in describing Kennedy's defeatist, concessionary attitudes, not merely at the outset, but during the early years of the War. In addition, however, because the author is a good historian, he provides us with a basis on which to understand the conflicting opinions that prevailed at the time as to what was in Britain's and the US's long-term interests, as well Kennedy's reasons, both personal and political, for believing, as he did, that victory over Hitler, whom he despised as a dictator, was impossible.

    Time and time again, Kennedy was wrong. Yet we learn in this bio that he was no Nazi-sympathizer. Instead, he was a businessman and congenital pessimist who did not understand the moral and political consequence of appeasement. He was also, it appears, an anti-Semite who blamed Jews for escalating the conflict with Hitler -- unbelievable, but that's what he thought -- even as he tried to persuade a reluctant Roosevelt and Chamberlain to pressure Hitler to allow Jews to leave Germany for safer ground.

    The story of the Kennedy family has been told over and over again, and of course plays a central role in this biography. Despite his infidelities, Kennedy appears to have loved his wife, Rose, and adored his children. His marriage was odd, to say the least -- the couple spent little time together -- but both parties to the deal seemed to have been content. Moving is the account of what happened to Rosemary, the Kennedy's mildly retarded daughter, who fell victim to medical science and her father's attempt to help her.

    I would have liked to learn more about Kennedy's involvement with the Truman administration and Cold War politics; the depiction of that period is a bit dry, lacking the drama and detail of the sections devoted to the Depression and Second World War. Nonetheless, this biography is a winner, and has increased my understanding of a complex man who played an important role in the history of the last century.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Vincent
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a life...
    Reviewed in France on July 13, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Amazing portrayal of greed fueled by skill.
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  • Helga Boucher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr gutes Buch habe viel gelernt daraus
    Reviewed in Germany on January 31, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Sehr interessant manchen wusste ich noch nicht von den Kennedies. Eine tolle familie aber viel Tragödien in der familie. Weiter so.
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  • Richard
    4.0 out of 5 stars very educational which is great.
    Reviewed in Australia on October 4, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a prosaic history full of all details of this very influential family. Well-written and revealing but a tad too dry for me. very educational which is great.
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  • Carlos Garcia Delgado
    4.0 out of 5 stars Libro muy documentado e ilustrativo
    Reviewed in Spain on December 27, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Libro muy ameno e ilustrativo
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  • R Helen
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing look at the head of America's most influential family
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I must say, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I think, being Jewish, Joseph Kennedy has always been, in my mind, the Nazi sympathizing, antisemitic head of one of America's most famous and influential families. Nasaw, however, has spent a large part of this book examining Kennedy's time as Ambassador to the Court of St. James, his views on appeasement, Hitler, and Jews, in general. According to him, Kennedy wasn't so much a Nazi sympathizer, as he was a strong believer that for America's sake it was better to work with Hitler, than against him. Nasaw spends some time emphasizing that Kennedy did not agree with the Nazi regime and especially its overly enthusiastic discrimination of Jews. He brings as proof a letter his son Joe Jr. wrote, in which Joe Jr praises the Nazis and condones their treatment of Jews (p.200), whereby Kennedy agrees with his son's analysis yet responds that the treatment of the Jews is a little too excessive. Nasaw also shows many places where Kennedy tried to help Jewish refugees, yet at the same time he points out that Kennedy didn't really spend much time or thought on it, as he felt there were much more important issues to worry about. In my mind, it seems, the author is attempting to reshape our conventional understanding of Kennedy, but I'm not so sure he's been that successful. Kennedy definitely shared some fascist beliefs, which the author doesn't delve much into, and he was definitely no fan of Jews. Putting these together, I'm not sure Kennedy has been totally cleared of these labels, but it seems there is definitely a lot more to think about. That said, two of Kennedy's children asked Nasaw to write the book, so although he denies this affected his research, I think it would definitely shape the way he portrays their father.

    The author has obviously brushed over some of the more negative aspects of Kennedy's life. For example, at Bethlehem Steel he apparently caused a huge strike and was forced into a lesser position, despite the achievements Nasaw points out. And his homelife wasn't so simple either. Rose clearly was much more aware of his womanizing than the author lets on and she even left him for a bit before her father convinced her to return.

    As for the book itself, the writing is very good, although I enjoyed the political and personal bits much more than the business sections, and I truly felt sorry for the man who eventually lost four children and who never visited his eldest daughter again after the early 1940s. It was very intriguing to hear how his foundation spent so much money on behalf of retarded children, an issue that was plainly dear to his heart, yet he could never bring himself to visit his daughter in the years after her failed lobotomy.

    Kennedy was a complex, intriguing figure. There were many things to like about him, and a great many more things not to, but his biography is well worth a read.
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