Starts fast, ends a litte slow

The first half of this audiobook was top notch - the author's step by step, minute by minute walk through the Kennedy Assassination was excellent. I've read many books on the assassination, but this is the first time I've heard the lead-up, the event, and the aftermath presented in this format - I found it very engaging and learned how to connect many of the dots I've read about. I may listen to this portion again in the future.
The author's rantings about the various conspiracy theories was interesting at times, but got tiring quickly. I generally agree with everything he said, but it felt like I was reading a personalized hate letter to 15 or so conspiracy writers - you disagree and the facts are on your side, WE GET IT. I lost interest in this section quickly.
Recommended - at least for the first portion.

17 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Parts are interesting

This is not the first book that I have read on this topic having read some of the bestselling Kennedy assassination books both believing in a conspiracy and others believing the offical reports.

I found the part of this book that explains the actual events in a timeline discussing the 24 hours before and the two days after the events to be a compelling narrative.

The discussion of the evidence in an objective manner (ie the Zapruder film, the ballistics, the issues surrounding the autopsy report) was quite interesting as well and I learned a great deal of information that was new to me. This is because he was able to subject some of the evidence, such as pictures, to new techniques.

However, the author seems quite angry at the people who believe any aspects of the conspiracy theories and labels them with unflattering words. I think if this part of the book had been more objective, the book would have been better.

16 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Finally a complete and clearly accurate accounting

I was still puzzled all these years later and this answered in detail every question, query, quibble, and melodramatic false statement. A job brilliantly done. A necessary job. So much detail and inarguable point by point dissection of absolutely everything and everyone involved. Also, Herrman is a wonderful reader. Terrific book. Deserves a thank-you.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

The Truth Will be Revealed.

Would you consider the audio edition of Reclaiming History to be better than the print version?

NOt quite, it's abridged. I've never liked abridged books much.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Reclaiming History?

I can't pick one. The whole thing was amazing.

Which scene was your favorite?

How the author tore into the conspiracy theories (I strongly doubt any conspiracy took place at al on that day._

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Let the Truth Reveal itself.

Any additional comments?

For people who don't believe in conspiracy theories like myself or for the curious, this is an excellent listen.

10 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Great Listen

I own this book, but it is quite thick and a long read. It is very clear Vincent Bugliosi invested many years and much of his time to providing concrete and factual details. I believe there was a conspiracy. I have my entire life. This is the only resource I have been exposed to that has caused me to think, "Well, could Oswald have done it alone?" Although I think there are a few weaker elements of the book (like attempts to group all conspiracy theorists under an umbrella of a few very extreme conspiracy beliefs, and failing to include other alternative theories involving some groups, such as the mob), I found this to be very informative, educational, and entertaining.

The first section of the book serves as more of a story (released after the fact as Four Days in November), and the rest is well-supported and cited information about the case, from the autopsy, to the Warren Commission, to conspiracy theories.

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Voluminous and Detailed, but Highly Biased

Would you consider the audio edition of Reclaiming History to be better than the print version?

I have no way of knowing this.

Would you be willing to try another book from Vincent Bugliosi? Why or why not?

Yes, but with no faith in his objectivity

Have you listened to any of Edward Herrmann’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

In progress (Teddy Roosevelt but Doris Kearns Goodwin)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

In the first part of his book, Bugliosi provides a fast paced, detailed narrative of the official Warren Report version of the JFK assassination. Unfortunately, the rest of the book exposes his huge bias in favor of the official version, and his equally huge contempt for anyone who does not wholeheartedly accept that version. His bias causes him to do exactly the same thing that he castigates the conspiracy theorists for doing: cherry-picking any evidence that supports his theories while ignoring or dismissing everything else. He also raises several issues that he then ignores, including: 1). The assassin on the 6th floor was staring intently at the grassy knoll until shortly before taking his firing position as the motorcade came around the corner; 2). The "escape" route by Oswald that initially took him a number of blocks in the opposite direction from his boarding house; 3). the mysterious phone calls to law enforcement officials warning that Oswald would be killed shortly before Oswald was actually killed; 4). The FBI's destruction of a letter from Oswald. Moreover, he oversimplifies the possibilities, concluding that because there was no evidence of a government conspiracy, then there could have been no conspiracy of any origin, and that because one bullet hit JFK in the rear of his head, then no other shots could also have been fired from the front. Furthermore, he blindly trusts the completeness and veracity of all testimony and evidence from every government source while making the gross blunder of repeatedly confusing the "absence of evidence" with "evidence of absence" in his numerous assertions that no relevant facts could possibly remain hidden for fifty years. So anyone who wants a good overview of the official version of the JFK assassination should simply listen to the first part of this book and skip the rest.

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Exceptional Detailed Account

Bugliosi's latest is a welcome breath of fresh air on a subject that has seen little since the mid 1960's. In particular, Bugliosi crushes Oliver Stone's mythical JFK film as the complete fraud that it was. Anyone having a sense of intellectual honesty on this subject oughtta do two things: 1. Watch JFK, 2. then read this book.

22 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

There was no conspiracy

Any additional comments?

After believing for over 45 years there was a conspiracy to kill president Kennedy, I got this book. It debunks all the B S theories that Oliver Stone, Jim Garrison, and Robert Groden profess, as well as all of the other hack writers that keep the conspiracy theories going for money. Plain common sense with these facts make it so obvious that Oswald acted alone and Ruby acted alone. I was 9 years old when this happened, and finally I know the truth.

10 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Slow Story

Reclaiming history is a long drawn out story written more like a law brief that a telling of actual events. The beginning of the story is fascinating and interesting. As the story goes on it feels as if the author was just trying to fill pages with redundant facts. This audio book was difficult to get thru.

11 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

On an equal footing with Helter Skelter

Would you listen to Reclaiming History again? Why?

Yes--- This is a detailed, well researched book that puts the conspiracy industry where it belongs. Folks like Oliver Stone have allowed their fears and suspicions to take charge of their judgement and ethics.

What other book might you compare Reclaiming History to and why?

Helter Skelter. Because of the author, the style and level of detail are the same. It recalls the bad old days of the sixties. This is the single most significant event of that decade and perhaps the century. America was one country before this day and another the next. This is an important work.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's not a scene, but the behavior of Mrs. Kennedy showed us what a class lady she was. She was one of a kind and far more admirable than her husband or any one else for that matter.

Any additional comments?

Lee Harvey Oswald was a creep but did not fall far from the tree. His mother was what you'd expect this little psycho to come from. If there is a message for us to take from this episode, it's that any worthless **** can have a profound effect. Lee Harvey Oswald was certainly worthless and got "lucky".

13 les gens ont trouvé cela utile