Reading Jackie: Her Autobiography in Books
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Reading Jackie: Her Autobiography in Books Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

William Kuhn (Author), Susan Denaker (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 87 ratings
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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis never wrote a memoir, but she told her life story and revealed herself in intimate ways through the nearly 100 books she brought into print during the last two decades of her life as an editor at Viking and Doubleday. Based on archives and interviews with Jackie's authors, colleagues, and friends, Reading Jackie mines this significant period of her life to reveal both the serious and the mischievous woman underneath the glamorous public image.

Though Jackie had a reputation for avoiding publicity, she willingly courted controversy in her books. She was the first editor to commission a commercially successful book telling the story of Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with his female slave. Her publication of Gelsey Kirkland's attack on dance icon George Balanchine caused another storm.

Jackie rarely spoke of her personal life, but many of her books ran parallel to, echoed, and emerged from her own experience. She was the editor behind best sellers on the assassinations of Tsar Nicholas II and John Lennon, and in another book, she paid tribute to the allure of Marilyn Monroe and Maria Callas. Her other projects take us into territory she knew well: journeys to Egypt and India, explorations of the mysteries of female beauty and media exploitation, into the minds of photographers, art historians, and the designers at Tiffany & Co.

Many Americans regarded Jackie as the paragon of grace, but few knew her as the woman sitting on her office floor laying out illustrations or flying to California to persuade Michael Jackson to write his autobiography.

Reading Jackie provides a compelling behind-the-scenes look at Jackie at work: how she commissioned books and nurtured authors, as well as how she helped to shape stories that spoke to her strongly. Jackie is remembered today for her marriages to JFK and to Aristotle Onassis, but her real legacy is the books that reveal the tastes, recollections, and passions of an independent woman.

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 31 minutes
  2. Author
    William Kuhn
  3. Narrator
    Susan Denaker
  4. Audible release date
    December 7, 2010
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B004FHZQ2Q
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 31 minutes
Author William Kuhn
Narrator Susan Denaker
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date December 07, 2010
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B004FHZQ2Q
Best Sellers Rank #115,555 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#152 in Biographies of Journalists, Editors & Publishers
#377 in Biographies of Authors
#742 in Biographies of Politicians

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
87 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Paul A Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars More than Jackie: A Different Side of Jackie Onassis
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a unique perspective on one of the world's most celebrated women, let alone one for whom is the subject of several other books. This book is unique in that it emphasizes worklife. Jackie Onassis edited more than 200 books during her career, although she only once allowed her name to be used. She was a serious player and a conscientious professional much to the initial surprise and later respect of her colleagues. This book is an insightful take on a fascinating woman, while giving keen insight to the world of publishing.
4 people found this helpful
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Steven Louis Brawley
5.0 out of 5 stars Jackie - Substance OVER Style
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2021
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Finally, a book that strategically documents Jackie's intellect, not just her beauty.

William Kuhn's - Reading Jackie: Her Autobiography in Books - provides one of the few works that get at the core of Jackie's interests. The books she read and edited provide a roadmap of her life. She once remarked there was a "brain under the pillbox hat." Kuhn's book makes that case for her.

This book isn't for the garden-variety Jackie worshippers who focus on fashion and gossip. And that's a good thing. - Steven Louis Brawley
3 people found this helpful
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LMcPell
5.0 out of 5 stars Capturing the Spirt of Jackie
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2011
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Others already have provided thoughtful analysis, so I'll keep this reasonably brief: Excellent. A well-researched, well-written glimpse into the realm of the rich and famous and the publishing industry. William Kuhn has done a fine job of capturing the spirit of Jackie. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of JFK's inaugural, it is of value to the historical record to reflect on the contributions of this extraordinary woman.

For me personally, "Reading Jackie" brought back fond memories of my late mother, a teacher raised in Appalachia, who looked to Jackie as a role model for raising children and sophistication. As Kuhn writes, when Jackie edited "The Power of Myth" by Bill Moyers, that process may well have helped her see how her fame "could be of use to other people in living their lives." Fascinating to have some of the mystery of the myth unveiled.
5 people found this helpful
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Liz (pansyliz) Toombs
4.0 out of 5 stars Insight on Jackie
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2011
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Reading Jackie: Her Autobiography in Books
By William Kuhn

A book about books, which tell a story with a lifelong story maker, maybe even a myth maker. The 100+ books edited by Jackie Kennedy Onassis reveals a little of how Jackie thought and/or lived. Her lifelong love for reading is blatantly clear. The books edited show her glamour, her interests, a small yet off shoot to her public life as 1st Lady, and her private view of life, including her public life. This book uniquely shows a Jackie far outside of the Jackie Kennedy 1st Lady or Jackie O'.

If you like books this is a good read to see the role and process of an engaged editor. If you want to go outside of the box on a Kennedy member this read will definitely be worth the read.

Reading Jackie is recommended.
6 people found this helpful
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rlrmb
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites about Jackie
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2016
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I'm secretly fascinated by Jacqueline Kennedy and have read many books about her and her family and their years in the White House, but this book was especially endearing because I love the woman Jackie became in later years. This guides you through her almost two decades of work as an editor, detailing the projects she took on and her relationships with the authors. Along the way, you gain so much insight to Jackie and her way of thinking, preferences, inclinations and how she felt about her life. There are wonderful quotes, anecdotes, and ideas for books to read. Just because Jackie edited a book doesn't mean you know about it, because she wasn't always formally listed as editor. Read this book if you are interested in her life! It's a delightful book.
6 people found this helpful
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honeybunchspk
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as interesting or new info as I had hoped.
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2021
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Interesting enough I finished the book but really just rehashing what is already out there. Nothing really new.
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Adamson
5.0 out of 5 stars Attention Jackie Fans
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2011
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I hated for this book to end. Reading about Jackie as a working woman made her very real for me. I got a feeling that I would very much have liked to work "with" her. Now I want to find all of the books she edited and read each of them. You will learn far more about her as a person and I have not missed many of the books about her. I am currently reading JACKIE AS EDITOR and a true fan must also read this one. Both authors covered the same period in very different ways. I am so glad that some of the people who actually knew Jackie are finally talking. What a bright, vivacious woman comes to life in this book.
2 people found this helpful
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cowboy
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book About an Amazing Woman
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014
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I read this book in two days. This book was well written with great insight about a woman who is still admired today. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, although she believed her place in history was minor, will always be remembered for her style, grace, and dignity. Mr. Kuhn has provided us with the portrait of a woman who was well read and was an intellectual with out having the stigma of being one. HIGHLY RECCOMEND
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

THINKS SW1
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting side of Jackie Kennedy Onassis
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2018
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Over the years I have read almost every book about JKO. She was part of my upbringing with regard to era and I even met her once. I found William Kuhn's book 'Reading Jackie' especially interesting as it was a part of JKO's life least recorded by previously written books that I had read and gave insight to a side of her I believe to be very authentic and unguarded. Only wish there had been more photographs as it would have been interesting to put faces to more of the very fascinating characters mentioned. Well written and highly recommended.
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Louise Primeau
5.0 out of 5 stars t
Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2014
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Easy reading. Great information.I enjoyed how maticulous Jackie was about her choices of the books that she choose to review. There are a few of her choices that I will purchase to review for myself.
LP
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Ms. K. M. Forbes
5.0 out of 5 stars Jackie O an insite.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2014
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I bought this book on audible and was interested In Jackie O's story, how she thought writing a memoires to be crass, plus she felt that America had gotten all of her already with JFK, she wanted privacy. So the book gives a insite into the person through the love of the kind of books she read. So I thought it was nice to get the book so that I can see the pictures.
One person found this helpful
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