An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960sAn Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s
What it's about
In his last years, Doris Kearns Goodwin's husband, Richard Goodwin, a speechwriter for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, decided it was time to open the three hundred boxes of papers he had saved from the 1960s. Together they went through them, and the book combines their marriage, his memories of the decade's hopes and tragedies, and the questions it still raises.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a tender love story and a vivid history of the 1960s from the inside.
You'll love it if you liked
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
The Years of Lyndon Johnson
Personal HistoryGood to know
Richard Goodwin died before it was finished, and grief runs through it.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller44 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #84 of the 198 history books we rank
- #85 of the 481 new books we rank
- #469 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #469 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s about?
In his last years, Doris Kearns Goodwin's husband, Richard Goodwin, a speechwriter for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, decided it was time to open the three hundred boxes of papers he had saved from the 1960s. Together they went through them, and the book combines their marriage, his memories of the decade's hopes and tragedies, and the questions it still raises.
What should I read after An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s?
If you liked it, try Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro or Personal History by Katharine Graham.