Autumn 2003 Book Sense 76 Top Ten JFK Picks

This week, Book Sense is announcing the latest Book Sense 76 Top Ten list, the Autumn 2003 Top Ten JFK Picks.

The list is based on the enthusiastic nominations of independent booksellers nationwide, and it is the second time we have compiled a list in association with The History Channel. November 22 will mark 40 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and The History Channel will air a week of specially themed programming focusing on JFK and his times. The centerpiece of "JFK Week," November 16-23, is a three-hour special, JFK: A Presidency Revealed, to be aired on November 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The JFK Top Ten, which will be coming to stores in the October White Box, features a range of front- and backlist titles, and offers booksellers a number of display and marketing opportunities. In addition, The History Channel will be mailing a copy of the list to 17,000 public libraries, extending the reach of the Book Sense brand and offering independent booksellers an opportunity to further cooperative efforts with local libraries. Throughout the month, The History Channel Web site will be noting the Book Sense list and promoting the brand as well.

For a downloadable PDF file of the JFK Top Ten, click here. For past Book Sense 76 lists, click here.

Deadlines for the remaining 76 lists for this year are:

• September 26 - November/December Book Sense 76
  
• October 3 - Winter Children's Book Sense 76
  
• November 21 - January/February '04 Book Sense 76
  

Book Sense 76 Editor-in-Chief Dan Cullen encourages all stores to contribute nominations for these three upcoming lists. Go to http://www.bookweb.org/read/6305 for a convenient online nomination form. For more information on the Book Sense 76 go to http://www.bookweb.org/booksense/seventysix/.

1. AN UNFINISHED LIFE: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963, by Robert Dallek (Little, Brown, $30, 0316172383) "A compelling look back at our not-too-distant past. Anyone who grew up in the '50s or '60s and who enjoys a detailed historical look at an individual and his times will appreciate this well-documented biography of JFK." --Rich Nunes, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA Also a Time Warner Audio (Abridged cassette, 1586215434)

2. A THOUSAND DAYS: John F. Kennedy in the White House, by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (Mariner, $17 paper, 0618219277) "It's probably over a thousand pages, but it is well worth the read to learn about the inside operations of the Kennedy White House. I read this as a senior in high school, and the book still holds meaning today." --Augie Aleksy, Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, Forest Park, IL

3. PRESIDENT KENNEDY: Profile of Power, by Richard Reeves (Simon & Schuster, $22 paper, 0671892894) "Reeves takes you through the Kennedy presidency day by day. Based on exhaustive research, this book is not only an excellent study of JFK's leadership, it is a unique look at the daily life of a president." --Ryan Coonerty, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

4. HIGH HOPES: A Photobiography of John F. Kennedy, by Deborah Heiligman (National Geographic, $17.95, 0792261410) "I'm always saddened that children today have no idea who John F. Kennedy was, how he was regarded during his presidency, the strides made in that short period of time, and the influence he had on the nation and the world. This fabulous book introduces children to Kennedy in an informative, concise, and engaging way, and takes adults back to a memorable time in their lives." --Ellen Mager, Booktenders Children's Bookstore, Doylestown, PA

5. THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST, by David Halberstam (Ballantine, $16.95 paper, 0449908704) "This is a classic of American reportage. Halberstam's history of America's descent into the madness of Vietnam draws a clear picture of Kennedy, his administration, and the inner turmoil of the debates about how to proceed. Halberstam's profile of JFK is scalpel-like, but never injudicious." --Steve Shapiro, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS

6. JACK: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy, by Ilene Cooper (Dutton, $22.99, 0525469230) "Covering John F. Kennedy's life from birth through prep-school graduation, this masterful volume fills a void in the wealth of biographical information on JFK. Cooper highlights Kennedy's development within a family of high expectations, wealth, and privilege." --Virginia Duffey, Page One Bookstore, Albuquerque, NM

7. CROSSFIRE: The Plot That Killed Kennedy, by Jim Marrs (Carroll & Graf, $17.95 paper, 0881846481) "What would a Kennedy Top Ten be without a conspiracy book? The question in Marrs' Crossfire isn't who was involved or implicated, but, rather, who wasn't?" --Edward Booker, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO

8. THE FITZGERALDS AND THE KENNEDYS: An American Saga, by Doris Kearns Goodwin (Simon & Schuster, $22 paper, 0743201752) "Kennedy was the ascendant star in a diverse and demanding universe that stretched over the entire 20th century. Goodwin's tale of greed and ambition, as well as of great tragedy, never suffers from the repetition of most Kennedy-clan histories because of her unerring empathy. She makes their history come alive, both good and bad." --Vivien Jennings, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS

9. THE KENNEDY TAPES: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis, edited by Ernest R. May and Philip D. Zelikow (Belknap Press, $16.95 paper, 0674179277) "This is an amazing opportunity to read the transcripts of conversations between Kennedy and his advisors that took place as the world went to the brink of nuclear war. Edited and annotated by eminent historians, the transcripts make for a gripping history lesson." --Neal Coonerty, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

10. THE KENNEDYS: America's Emerald Kings, by Thomas Maier (Basic Books, $27.50, 0465043178) "This book provides us with new insights into the Kennedy family -- and JFK's presidency -- by revealing how much the issues of the family's immigrant past, Irish ethnicity, and strong Catholic faith affected them, and, in turn, U.S. history. It's refreshing to read a book on the Kennedys that does not rely on or cover information that is common knowledge. This should be recommended reading for anyone interested in this amazing family." --Elizabeth Hamilton, Portland State Bookstore, Portland, OR Also an Audio Partners Audio (Abridged cassette, 1572703695)