Product Description

Written by John F. Kennedy in 1940 when he was still in college and reprinted in 1961 when he was president, this book is an appraisal of the tragic events of the thirties that led to World War II. It is an account of England's unpreparedness for war and a study of the shortcomings of democracy when confronted by the menace of totalitarianism.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #378817 in Books
• Published on: 1981-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 252 pages

Customer Reviews

An Insightful Look At The World
First let me say I've been a fan of JFK for many years. And yet I had never read this book. As the 40th anniversary of his death approached, I decided to read this book and was stunned by how wise his analysis was of the British situation prior to WWII. His observations about Churchill were quite right, and his assessment of why England hung back when other parts of Europe were falling was so clear and correct, that I had to keep reminding myself that this was written in 1940. I also could see how he used these observations to craft his own view of foreign policy and defense for when he became President. I'm glad I read this book. It's well worth the time.

A surprisingly insightful view of pre war Europe and America
This review will not likely be read by anyone for years or if ever, unless the book receives a new publication, but let's set the record straight, did JFK solely write this book? Who knows and who cares anymore. At least there isn't the plagiarizing charge that accompanies the 21st century's current popular historians. Kennedy put his name on the cover and left himself open for criticism or acclaim.

The book is drably written and without many of the lively anecdotes typical of current nonfiction. The book, though, in analyzing England & Europe's political and economic condition provides a perspective to the often asked question of "Why didn't the world act to stop Hitler before he opened hostilities?" Kennedy nearly prophesizes the later U.S. involvement in the war. Unfortunately, the post war perspective of whether earlier action against Hitler should have been initiated is colored by historians' accepting of Churchill's later self serving reviews of the pre-war years. Kennedy's book gives some perspective to Churchill's role of those pre-war years (e.g., Churchill at first argued to increase armament to keep up with the French, not Germany), and the likelihood of whether more serious action would have been possible at the time (not likely by any single nation). There were things in this book that I had not earlier encountered in my numerous readings of WWII.

WES is more important than it is given credit for
As a book from the period, it is only and merely of some interest. As a source of insight into a future president's thought and view of the world, it is remarkable!