Ask Not

“Callahan takes a fresh angle by focusing in on the women born or married or merely sucked up into the world of the Kennedys and the price they paid…. Anyone looking for happy stories of Camelot should keep looking.”

“A stinging portrait of the depredations of not just John F. Kennedy but of three generations of Kennedy men . . . Callahan delivers.”

"A timely reminder of the dangers posed by men who crave power."

“Callahan profiles 13 women, some famous, some infamous, some conveniently unknown, who had the misfortune of falling into the Kennedy orbit…. The Kennedys, Callahan asserts, are the epitome of men behaving badly. Taken as a whole, their decades-long misogynistic and malevolent exploits must be recognized as being as legacy-defining as their political successes.”

"It is practically the birthright of every American to have a fascination with the Kennedys—and the infamous Kennedy curse. Maureen Callahan does us one better, stripping away the veneer of Camelot to present a searing, no holds barred account of scandal by zeroing in on the numerous destructions wrought by generations of Kennedy men against the women in their orbit. There are revelations about Jackie Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, and Carolyn Bessette, of course, but also about the various crimes committed against women outside the family too, including famous figures, like Marilyn Monroe, and lesser known individuals, like Martha Moxley."

"A grim but very compelling read."

“A lacerating exposé.”

"If you're after non-fiction that reads like a propulsive political thriller, this is the book for you."

“A sharp-edged exposé of Kennedy men… An informative and gossip-filled history of a notorious clan.”

"Bold, brave and original, Ask Not takes a sledgehammer to the myth of Camelot. This is an unforgettable book—a necessary reckoning that will forever change the way I view modern American history."

“A harrowing, incendiary swirl of tragedy, true crime, and reconsidered history, Ask Not sets a match to the glamour and mystique of America’s most famous family. With incisive wit and wisdom, Callahan exposes the individuals and the celebrity culture that aided and abetted so many Kennedy men.”