Reclaiming History [Hardcover]

 

 

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Regardless of what the naysayers have written in the negative reviews, this is required reading if you have ever bought into any of the multitude of conspiracy theories. Challenge your thinking. Even if you still disagree, you may learn something nonetheless.

If you want or need to believe that someone other than Oswald shot Kennedy, then do not read this book because you're going to be disappointed. You're not going to find any corroboration of weird and wonderful X-Files theories or things "the government doesn't want you to know". What you are going to find is: (a) the most completely researched and comprehensive presentation of the facts of the case available anywhere; and, (b) a very logical interpretation of those facts. But let's make no mistake. This book makes very, very clear that Oswald and only Oswald shot Kennedy and that is highly, highly unlikely that Oswald acted as part of a larger conspiracy.

This is the definitive book on the Kennedy assassination. The author has investigated virtually every facet of the case. He's reviewed the findings of most investigations, looked into their sources, looked at corroborative and contradictory evidence, sought expert opinion on the plausibility of different events, interviewed key players and then subjected all this information to a logical analysis. If you want to know why the "magic bullet theory" is the "single bullet fact", it's in here. (It is so compelling that I have a hard time beleiving some of the reviewers even read this book) The end result is a comprehensive, complete, logical, and above all else, intellectually honest treatment of the assassination. For one of your reviewers to say it was, "poorly researched" was just unbelievable.

It's a long book but that shouldn't deter anyone. The book is really a collection of books on different aspects of the case and most of these could be read as stand alones. If time is a factor, I would recommend simply reading two of the sections, "4 Days in November" and, "Lee Harvey Oswald". These are compelling narratives. "4 Days in November" is as good an account of the events leading up to and following the case as anything I have read. After reading "Lee Harvey Oswald" I gained some real understanding of what motivated the murder and I will never look at the picture of Marina Oswald at her husband's funeral in the same way. The other sections of the book can be used as reference materials. The index is excellent and most of the contentious issues, such as the autopsy and the so-called magic bullet, have their own chapter in any event.

Of course, if you only read parts of the book you will deny yourself the pleasure of seeing one of the greatest frauds ever perpetuated systematically demolished in a compelling, deservedly sarcastic and, at times, outright hilarious way. I had no idea Mr. Bugliosi could be so funny. I laughed out loud as he analyzed the credibility of conspiracy supporter Robert Groden.

It's a great book. There are a few errors. For example, I noticed a typo on page 417, (it should read the right "rear" of his head) but Mr. Bugliosi has done a great public service. It's quite frightening to think that so many people have been bamboozled into believing something so wrong and with such sinister implications and through such intellectually dishonest means. The Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories remind me of the "stab in the back" myth that took hold in Weimar Germany. By exposing the mother of all conspiracy theories and revealing how its many variants were "sold" to people, Mr. Bugliosi is really defending reason itself and I feel a little better about the world knowing that there are still people doing that.

I am in agreement with a lot of the sentiment expressed in some reviews, looking on in wonder and disillusionment at this book. I too admired Bugliosi's books on the Simpson case and the Supreme Court debacle of 2000. The quality of thought and presentation shown in those books is absent from this monstrosity. There is no nuance or texture, there is no new research of any sort, and the contradictions and incomplete reasoning are very thick under foot. Gratuitous personal slights and demonization of a whole range of loosely connected people whom Bugliosi cements into a mass of "nuts" are splattered all over the pages. This is a very sad blight on both Bugliosi and Norton.

The only thing I can assume is that Bugliosi threw down his gauntlet on the Oswald case in 1967 when he argued very publicly the case against Oswald as a lone assassin and then picked up a huge advance from Norton to write the book; possibly he was under pressure to actually produce the book, and decided to cover his lack of interest and/or knowledge under a bloat of prose. A great deal is known now that wasn't known then (though it is hard to appreciate this from the way Bugliosi discusses the evidence). Neither Bugliosi nor Norton seem to have figured out that after so many years of delay what Bugliosi has to say about this is no longer relevant, unless he would have gone back and done many years of research. Both parties would have been better off to have swallowed the loss and moved on. They used the shortcut of a patched-up pile of research and writing by who knows how many people, extremely biased and not very well informed.

The result is a lamely reasoned, poorly researched, disorganized, pretentious, arrogant and embarrassing clunker. I hope Bugliosi is able to recoup his loss in credibility and respect with another good book some day. I guess I remain an admirer, though this stunt has me wondering about him and his publisher.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Just The Facts Ma'am
Despite the truly surreal critiques of this book by several reviewers who clearly haven't read it, this book can only be described as the definitive book on the Kennedy... Read more

Published on Jan 28 2008 by Mr. Clifford Endicott

5.0 out of 5 stars Bugliosi correctly focuses on the evidence
Even though I was born six years after JFK was assassinated, I have always been fascinated by the event and by Kennedy himself. Read more

Published on Nov 6 2007 by Stephen Raivio

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone
While I was a believer in some form of conspiracy surrounding the Kennedy assassination when I first picked up this book (with a forklift), after having read it and the endnotes,... Read more

Published on July 16 2007 by Manatee

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most complex, yet readable books ever published
When you are first handed this book, whether in the bookstore or from the postal service you are struck first by it's visual size. Read more

Published on Jun 3 2007 by Steve Mayes

1.0 out of 5 stars Why Vince?
After Vince took care of Shapiro-Bailey-Cochran-Clark( never want to see them again unless it's in an orange jumpsuit BTW) with his superb OJ Critique, why in the world would he... Read more

Published on May 25 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Bugliosi v. Stone's cult of silliness: Facts v. Nonsense.
Magic bullet? Grassy knoll? The umbrella man? If you like fantasy, read Tolkein. If you want facts, read Bugliosi.

Published on Feb 18 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Ignorance is Bliss
Let me get this straight...Mr. Bugliosi believes in Magic Bullets? OKEY DOKEY Alice, if you want to vacation in Wonderland, by all means believe the magic bullet theory. Read more

Published on Feb 22 2003

1.0 out of 5 stars Tell me it isn't so Vince
I have been a huge fan of Mr. Bugliosi for over 25 years. I have read most of your work and have read some titles three and four times. Read more

Published on Feb 4 2003 by Lee Stephenson

1.0 out of 5 stars BUGLIOSI'S SCAM
Vincent Bugliosi's approach to the death of JFK has been telegraphed
in his BETRAYAL OF AMERICA, which makes a devastating case
against The Supreme Court for its abuse... Read more

Published on Jan 18 2003 by James H. Fetzer

5.0 out of 5 stars Anything by Bugliosi is killer
If anyone wants to look at this topic with the ultra logical, keen wit and sharp deductive reasoning of Mr. Bugliosi, you will not be disappointed. Get this book!

Published on Nov 29 1998

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