Reviews for FIRSTBORN: The Life of Luis Fred Kennedy 1908-1982
“This deep-dive celebration of an enterprising executive and company delivers engrossing nuggets of history.”
–Kirkus Reviews
(read the full review here)
–Kirkus Reviews
(read the full review here)
"This is a must-read book for anyone interested in the history of Jamaica over the last 100 years and the role played by GraceKennedy Ltd. during this period, especially in helping Jamaica survive the turbulent 70s and early 80s. There is no one more qualified to write this history than son of Luis Fred Kennedy, author Fred W. Kennedy, who takes us on an intriguing journey as GraceKennedy morphed from a very small company into a large dominant conglomerate having a staff complement of over 2,000."
-Errol Donovan Anderson, Former Director/Group Corporate Secretary, GraceKennedy Ltd.
-Errol Donovan Anderson, Former Director/Group Corporate Secretary, GraceKennedy Ltd.
"In Firstborn: The Life of Luis Fred Kennedy, Fred Kennedy has successfully painted an authentic portrait of a complex man, our father. The historical, political, and social context offer a riveting backdrop to the timeline of Luis Fred Kennedy’s growth and development to become the catalyst for the expansion of a company that would become one of the Caribbean’s largest corporate entities."
-Dr. Mary Cameron, Professor Emeritus of Education, The University of Findlay
-Dr. Mary Cameron, Professor Emeritus of Education, The University of Findlay
"FIRSTBORN is meticulously researched and masterfully curated. As though guiding the reader on a multimedia museum tour, Fred Kennedy brings to life some of Jamaica's rich history in his account of the lives and legacies of generations of his family. I wish I had had access to historical accounts as vivid and engaging when I was a student."
-Dr. Mary Anne Chambers, OOnt, Retired business executive and former cabinet minister; corporate director, university chancellor and author.
-Dr. Mary Anne Chambers, OOnt, Retired business executive and former cabinet minister; corporate director, university chancellor and author.
"An intriguingly readable book that meticulously weaves together the life of Luis Fred Kennedy, family histories, personal emotions, GraceKennedy’s century long journey, and Jamaica’s transition from colony to independent nation. I joined GraceKennedy after Luis Fred Kennedy’s retirement, and so never met him personally, but felt his enduring presence through our company’s oral history. Firstborn has now given me a vivid three-dimensional view of the man and his times. I am so grateful."
-Douglas Orane, Retired Chairman and CEO, GraceKennedy Limited.
-Douglas Orane, Retired Chairman and CEO, GraceKennedy Limited.
“Firstborn is a riveting account of the life of Luis Fred Kennedy, whom I admired as an outstanding leader and champion of the private sector. Written by his son, it is a monumental work of a true Jamaican patriot and humanitarian.”
–A. Rafael Diaz, Former CEO/Chairman, GraceKennedy Ltd.
–A. Rafael Diaz, Former CEO/Chairman, GraceKennedy Ltd.
“Based on a rich array of sources, Luis Fred Kennedy’s family and business story, as lucidly narrated by his son, is a significant contribution to Jamaica’s social and economic history, post slavery. Coming from two generations of Jamaicans in commerce, Luis Kennedy, with visionary leadership and a dynamic management team, built a commercial entity that is the pride of modern Jamaica. A rewarding read for scholars and the general public.”
–Dr. Swithin Wilmot, Caribbean historian.
–Dr. Swithin Wilmot, Caribbean historian.
