True Compass

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FROM its very first pages, Edward 'Ted' M. Kennedy's book, "True Compass" (which is actually a narrative borne out of about 50-years of copious notes and recordings compiled by the late patriach of the Kennedy family, up till his very last days alive before he died last month), makes a riveting read from its very first pages. Mr. Kennedy, the third longest-serving Senator in the history of the US Senate (in office since 1962) died last month, a little over a year after he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

The prose is beautiful and the stories are as real as any, taking the reader through several rolling cascades of emotions; from the teary to the uplifting and inspirational; from the serious life-lessons to the absolutely hilarious. And, forget that the author is from an extremely privileged background, anyone (and I mean, anyone at all with a little sense of imagination) can relate to the narrative captured in the rich prose of Ted Kennedy's 'True Compass'. Virtually everyone can relate to the stories in this book.

I have only just started reading this book yet, but I couldn't wait to come on here (this is my first review on NVS, by the way!) and share my thoughts about the book. Yes, I have heard good stuff about the book on CNN's 'Larry King Live' show and Chris Mathews's 'Hardball' (MSNBC), but it wasn't until I stumbled upon the book at my local Sam's Club that I realized how good the book is - so good that I couldn't drop it after I picked it up and flipped through the pages on the floor of the store.

My intention here is to embark on my journey reading True Compass with any interested members of this audience, God willing. Yes, again, it is that interesting - so interesting that I can't afford not to share it with others around me. I recommend this book as a first-rate read. Like I said, the story is real. It is emotional. It is funny. It is engaging and it is full of enriching life-lessons from a man whose eyes saw so much in his near-78 years alive, from the lowest valleys of sorrow to the heights of bliss.

Life is indeed an interesting sojourn and Ted Kennedy's isn't an exception.

Join me, friends, on this journey with Ted's 'True Compass'.

Auspicious.

[Iye]

When you are done reading...can I be first on your recylce list

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Iye

When you are done reading...can I be first on your recylce list

Nnnnnnno, you can't - because I know you can easily afford one.
In the meantime (pending my first 'release' of my journey with Uncle Ted's true compass), enjoy one of my two most cherished moments of Teddy Kennedy's actions in his last few years alive.

I have never seen a more powerful, heartfelt and moving political endorsement of anybody than the one 'Uncle Ted' gave then Senator Barack Obama in January 2008 at the American University in Washington. Obama's successful run must have meant a lot to him on a personal level.

Along with the accompanying videos, I had the following to say here (link), January 28 last year.

Auspicious.

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THERE is a patently obvious demeanor noticeable amongst almost every Barack Obama supporter I see or read about; they all radiate some kind of very passionate emotional energy and fervor in advocating for Mr. Obama. And it was that kind of energy that radiated earlier today, when a veteran Senator who has served for (46) years as a United States Senator from Massachusetts, Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy, inspired a crowd of roof-shaking Obama supporters with his much coveted endorsement.

The 76-year old Kennedy who is well-known and respected as the "Democratic Lion of the Senate" used (the) power of his oratory (along with) his powerful voice to exhort an already energized crowd, and the crowd simply soaked itself in his words as they chanted and yelled with an excitement that NO other presidential candidate has been abile to elicit from Americans in recent memory.

3 generations of Kennedys came to endorse Obama at a single event; the septugenarian Kennedy, his niece and JFK's daughter Caroline and Ted's own son who is a legislator in the lower house representing the State of Rhode Island, Patrick.

The affair was one beautiful thing to behold. That is why I am sharing it with you all: