What Jackie Taught Us: Lessons from the Remarkable Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

I bought this book from an Animal Rescue Thrift Shop in Middleburg, VA where Jackie Kennedy and her family once had a weekend retreat and the residents there still remember them with a combination of love and pride. Jackie's life - and her values - are truly old-fashioned but are very much needed today. She excelled at her studies. She spoke not only fluent French, but also conversational Italian and Spanish. She cared about how she looked and her style was a breath of fresh air. She was an expert in the arts and also in horsemanship. She correctly assessed that just revamping the White House wasn't enough - she'd have to make sure it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places so that it was preserved as it should be. She wrote thank you notes to those who were kind to her. And yet her life was full of hardships. Her parents divorced when she was young and her father did not attend her wedding. Her husband was assasinated and the famiy money was tied up in trust funds so that she had to petition Joe and Rose Kennedy for funds - like if she needed a new family car. She was harshly criticized and even ostracized by the Catholic Church when she married Aristotle Onassis. Her family was stalked for years by a Kennedy-obsessed photographer. Jackie withstood her hardships with courage and grace and style - which the book reveals was much harder than it may have looked to the public eye. Ms. Flaherty has written an easy to read book about a remarkable woman and provides meaningful analysis of what Jackie accomplished what she did - and at the end of every chapter provides a thoughtful overview of what we can learn though Jackie's life. There were other negative reviews of this book appearing here. I don't agree. If you believe that by reading the accomplishments of others, you might be inspired to be a better person yourself - than you will love this book.

I think I've read every book about Jackie that's been published in the last 20 years. This one is my favorite because it reads more like an analytical handbook than like a chronological overview of Jackie's life. I like the way that the author dissected Jackie's values, attitudes, and behavior so that the reader can better understand just who Jackie was. This is the type of book I'll be giving my girlfriends for a birthday gift. The combination of a small size, just a few well-chosen photos, and the practical nature of the text make it a must-have for any Jackie admirer.

Having had the incredible privilege of knowing Jackie Kennedy personally, Tina Flaherty's "What Jackie Taught Us" definitely captured the essence and depth of a remarkable woman. I was a young teenager when my family spent many occasions with the President & the First Lady. What stood out for me as Tina so adeptly describes, was Jackie's amazing sensitivity and intuitiveness. As in the chapter about the humble gardener bringing the small bunch of violets to Jackie's "Grampy Jack" funeral and one of the rapacacious Aunts grabs the bouquet and sticks it in a larger bunch. Jackie later retrieves the violets and secretly places them in her grand fathers coffin not only to defy her Aunt's rudeness but to validate the tender jesture of the gardener. A similar situation happened when I was in line at The White House waiting my turn to give my condolences to Jackie. I was told not to cry when it came my turn to be with her as with all the other dignitaries and various relatives in the room this would be very inappropriate behavior. Needless to say to this 15 year old, I could barely get the words out of how sorry I was when I burst into tears. Jackie then proceeded to hug me and silently weep in what seemed to be elongated moment of genuine release. This authenticity of Jackie's Grace & Humility reverberates throughout the pages of Tina Flaherty's book. A must read for many lessons this world needs to revive!

Tina Santi Flaherty brings us another wonderful book about the remarkable woman of character we all remember as Jackie. Through this heart-felt book, we are reminded of the qualities that I personally have always admired and watched when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was alive. She was a lady, and maintained her dignity. She kept her private life private, and was an example of fine character. She loved her husband unconditionally, and raised two beautiful children as a devoted mother. Jacqueline was the epitome of grace and elegance. She wrote thoughtful notes to people whenever they did something kind for her. She overcame deep pain and adversity by bringing out her true inner strength, rather than crumble. She was charitable, philanthropic and humane. She cared about preserving art and culture. She worked as an editor, and maintained her humility. No matter what tragic or painful circumstance was before her, she faced it, and overcame much. Thank you Tina for keeping the beautiful memory of an exceptional woman alive. This Book is A Great Read! Barbara Rose, author of "Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE" and 'If God Was Like Man' Editor of inspire! magazine

As a child of the 60's my first impression of Jackie Kennedy Onassis was that of dignity and grace. Flaherty's book is very detailed on how she accomplished this along with the courage she had shown throughout her life. A must read!!!!!!!!