It takes a heck of a lot to put your alcoholism, metal illness, and the issues that go along with those disorders down on paper. Because of the Kennedy last name, there's almost a requirement that you share part of yourself with the public. This could also be considered a downfall from detractors of the Kennedy family who can paint him as just doing this to get attention of himself or even those who don't understand the complexities of addiction and just what it means to be an addict.

Overall though, I thought Patrick Kennedy did a solid effort at being honest. Illustrating why it was so difficult in the Kennedy family to discuss the problems that they faced. In a lot of ways I felt like it was more brutally honest than many of the right leaning works that cast a potentially partisan light on the actions of Kennedy family politicians: JFK, RFK, and Teddy. It's very hard for me as a person to read about such addiction, mental illness and know that we are still woefully underprepared to deal with it.

Recommended even if you don't worship the Kennedys.

a stunningly truthful portrait of one of America’s most public families.