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An Unfinished Love Story

By: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Narrated by: Doris Kearns Goodwin, Bryan Cranston
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Publisher's summary

Narrated by Doris Kearns Goodwin with the star of Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston! The audio edition also includes archival recordings of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Robert F. Kennedy.

The #1 New York Times bestseller from “America’s historian-in-chief” (New York magazine)

An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin, one of America’s most beloved historians, artfully weaves together biography, memoir, and history. She takes you along on the emotional journey she and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin embarked upon in the last years of his life.

Dick and Doris Goodwin were married for forty-two years and married to American history even longer. In his twenties, Dick was one of the brilliant young men of John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier. In his thirties he both named and helped design Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and was a speechwriter and close advisor to Robert Kennedy. Doris Kearns was a twenty-four-year-old graduate student when selected as a White House Fellow. She worked directly for Lyndon Johnson and later assisted on his memoir.

Over the years, with humor, anger, frustration, and in the end, a growing understanding, Dick and Doris had argued over the achievements and failings of the leaders they served and observed, debating the progress and unfinished promises of the country they both loved.

The Goodwins’ last great adventure involved finally opening the more than three hundred boxes of letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had saved for more than fifty years. They soon realized they had before them an unparalleled personal time capsule of the 1960s, illuminating public and private moments of a decade when individuals were powered by the conviction they could make a difference; a time, like today, marked by struggles for racial and economic justice, a time when lines were drawn and loyalties tested.

Their expedition gave Dick’s last years renewed purpose and determination. It gave Doris the opportunity to connect and reconnect with participants and witnesses of pivotal moments of the 1960s. And it gave them both an opportunity to make fresh assessments of the central figures of the time—John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, and especially Lyndon Johnson, who greatly impacted both their lives. The voyage of remembrance brought unexpected discoveries, forgiveness, and the renewal of old dreams, reviving the hope that the youth of today will carry forward this unfinished love story with America.

©2024 Doris Kearns Goodwin (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Interview: "An Unfinished Love Story" is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s most personal history yet

'But more importantly, I really began to realize that all my life as an historian, it's to keep people alive...'
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  • An Unfinished Love Story
  • 'But more importantly, I really began to realize that all my life as an historian, it's to keep people alive...'

Editorial Review

Doris Kearns Goodwin like we’ve never seen before
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is always an immediate add-to-Library, and An Unfinished Love Story is by far her most personal work to date. Simultaneously a reflection of the final years spent with her late husband, Richard, and a look back at the history of the 1960s, Goodwin’s latest offers an intimate take on the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Based on more than 300 boxes of personal documents and memorabilia, it’s also incredible in audio—with a performance led by Goodwin herself, intertwined with passages from actor Bryan Cranston and archival audio excerpts. It’s the perfect blend of history, biography, and memoir, and offers a totally new side to Goodwin that I am so grateful she’s chosen to share with her listeners. —Michael C., Audible Editor

What listeners say about An Unfinished Love Story

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Engaging with politics deep in historical history

I liked the personal reflection of this famous political historian. She put herself in the story of the 60’s. I lived then but definitely enjoyed hearing it from her perspective.

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Brilliance and enjoyment of thot generation.

So bright and energetic! A unique time in our history. Took me back to my own time in Washington as a young woman.

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Such a fitting title!

I thoroughly enjoyed the personal insider telling of all the events that Doris and Dick were able to witness and participate in.
Doris’ writing and reading styles kept me immensely interested to not only hear about these historical events from their viewpoints, but also about their amazing love story.
Doris, Thank you for sharing your unique perspective!

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A Must-Read

Was only 15 when the first events took place and leaned how challenging these times were that I was oblivious of at the time. So proud of Dick Goodwin’s courage and strength of character. So pleased to here of the way he and Doris joined their talents to help our country.

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Great book - I learned a lot!

I loved the audiobook. I learned so much, and being able to hear recordings of the speeches of John Kennedy & Lyndon Johnson, vs. just reading them was a big plus. Doris & Dick both led such interesting lives. I didn’t know who Dick Goodwin was until I read this. Mrs. Kearns-Goodwin painted a great picture of her husband and the part he played in the Kennedy & Johnson administrations. She painted a different picture of Lyndon Johnson than I’ve heard before. I was born in the early 60s, so was not old enough to know what was going on, at the time. This book gave me a better understanding. I highly recommend this book!

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I relived history, and developed a new appreciation for LBJ

excellent history telling- first hand!!!! I relived history, and developed a new appreciation for LBJ

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Excellent and heartwarming

Another excellent book from the author . Both informative and personal. A must read.highly te recommended

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Loved hearing the actual voices giving their speeches

An interesting account of the 60’s by someone who was actually there, both Doris and her husband. Listening to her reading was tedious much of the time, but the material compelled me to listen to the end.

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Wow, what a book!

Fascinating from the first to the last page. I really felt like I had a front row seat for everything that happened in the 1960’s . I remember the 1960’s, but hearing all of the personal remembrances made that history come alive. What a writer she is.

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What a beautiful picture

Not only does DKG share so many unknown events of the 60s. Intimate stories about JFK RFK and LBJ. And after the beautiful story of the 60s she weaves in her beautiful love story with her husband. Thank you so much!

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