If you’ve read my blog before, you’re probably familiar with the recent biopic “Jackie,” which I saw a few weeks ago at the North Park Theater. The tale of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ life, particularly surrounding and immediately after the assassination of her husband, was a haunting, memorable film. You can read my full review of it here! (Shameless self-promotion.)

After I saw that movie, I wanted to dive into Jackie’s life a little more and looked into a few books about her and her life. The first I settled on is the one I’m giving a quick review of today: “What Jackie Taught Us: Lessons from the Remarkable Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis” by Tina Santi Flaherty.

I don’t want to give away too much, of course, but there were a few quotes that really touched me that I’d like to share with you:

Following your dream, which is really what vision is all about, is the essence of a meaningful and exuberant life. Each of us can succeed in achieving our vision, no matter what the odds. But even if we run aground, the rewards can be great. What we learn on one journey becomes the building blocks for the next.

This book was an interesting read in that it wasn’t just a straight-forward biography of the First Lady. Rather, it wove stories from her life, and that of her children, into several lessons we can learn or take away from her life. From topics including dating and relationships to motherhood, manners to style, self-awareness to listening…. there’s a lot to take away from this book. In the end, the reader walks away with not only some tips for life, but also a better idea of how Jackie lived her life, and how she became such an iconic figure.

In a busy world where we’re constantly bombarded by distractions, it can be difficult to maintain our sense of purpose. We’re only human, and it’s easy to find a thousand and one excuses for failing to stay on track. If we are to accomplish anything worthwhile in life, we have to be selfish in our dedication to doing so.

If you get a chance to get your hands on this book — go for it. I really enjoyed it, especially since it wasn’t just a biography. It flowed well and was an easy and enjoyable read!

“Once you can express yourself, you can tell the world what you want from it… All the changes in the world, for good or evil, were first brought about by words.” – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis