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What Would Jackie Do?: An Inspired Guide to Distinctive Living
We can’t help but want to be like her: Exuding unmatched poise and style, Jackie O continues to fascinate women and men of all ages. But how would Jackie have handled the twenty-first century? What would she have thought of a society defined by casual rules of conduct? Gathering intriguing research, commentary from today’s experts, and fond reminiscences about the first lady of perfection’s day-to-day decisions, journalists Shelly Branch and Sue Callaway offer a sparkling answer to the question: What Would Jackie Do?
Applying Jackie’s philosophies to every aspect of contemporary life, including relationships, office politics, family matters, household bills, and entertaining, What Would Jackie Do? is a trove of advice, featuring:
� Noblesse oblige for beginners
� How not to be an interchangeable woman
� Mastering the effortless rich look
� The art of attachment: lessons on sex, marriage, and men of consequence
� Career whirls: pearls for getting ahead
What Would Jackie Do? portrays the practical wisdom behind an icon. The next best thing to having Jackie O as a personal adviser, What Would Jackie Do? gives readers a piece of the Jackie mystique.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2005
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569 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 12, 2012
While parts of this book were interesting i think the author failed in two ways. one, I didn't think she was successful in creating advice for the "every day woman." It was more advice geared toward richer women, just not as rich as Jackie. Also, while some of the advice and ideas were current, some of it seemed kind of outdated. I don't think she was able to transform a Jackie kind of woman into a completely modern woman. I like the information about Jackie, her relationships with other people, and how she handled herself, but the guide for how to be like her fell short for me.
June 6, 2007
I'll flat-out say it. This book is a waste of paper and ink. It makes me cringe.
Now, I certainly wasn't expecting a Pulitzer Prize effort or anything, but I thought, maybe, it would be cute. I came by the book for free, and figured I could browse through it after a long day at work when I didn't want to have to think about anything important for the rest of the day. You know, like "What Not to Wear" or "Mean Girls" in book form. Cheesy, but cute, and relaxing.
Instead of being called "What Would Jackie Do," this book could have been titled, "How to Be a High-Maintenance Rich Brat (I could probably find a more suitable word here, but I'll keep it PG)." It spouts out many oh so helpful tips, like - make sure the designer logo "H" on your belt stands for Hermes, not Hilfiger. After all, Jackie would never be caught dead in such low-end fashion. It even gives priceless insight to the kind of life Jackie led. Apparently she would have a maid drive around the block in a convertible and report back on what type of "hair weather" it was. Hmm.
The real gems of the book, however, are the namesake of the book - What would Jackie do? Each chapter has a set of questions, to which the authors provide their expert opinion on how Jackie would respond. For example, would Jackie shop at Target? Gasp - of course she would never wear anything with Target logo on it, but since she did like a bargain, she would probably get her yoga gear there. And my personal favorite - Would Jackie ever pick up the tab on a date? Oh dahling, of course not! Isn't the price of a hairstyle and manicure and new outfit enough to make the man pick up the check? Oh alright then, you are allowed to pay for a few drinks if you are past the dating phase and think the guy might be real marriage material. Seriously. The book even suggests giving Botox a whirl before committing to a facelift. Duh - it's what Jackie would do.
Now, I certainly wasn't expecting a Pulitzer Prize effort or anything, but I thought, maybe, it would be cute. I came by the book for free, and figured I could browse through it after a long day at work when I didn't want to have to think about anything important for the rest of the day. You know, like "What Not to Wear" or "Mean Girls" in book form. Cheesy, but cute, and relaxing.
Instead of being called "What Would Jackie Do," this book could have been titled, "How to Be a High-Maintenance Rich Brat (I could probably find a more suitable word here, but I'll keep it PG)." It spouts out many oh so helpful tips, like - make sure the designer logo "H" on your belt stands for Hermes, not Hilfiger. After all, Jackie would never be caught dead in such low-end fashion. It even gives priceless insight to the kind of life Jackie led. Apparently she would have a maid drive around the block in a convertible and report back on what type of "hair weather" it was. Hmm.
The real gems of the book, however, are the namesake of the book - What would Jackie do? Each chapter has a set of questions, to which the authors provide their expert opinion on how Jackie would respond. For example, would Jackie shop at Target? Gasp - of course she would never wear anything with Target logo on it, but since she did like a bargain, she would probably get her yoga gear there. And my personal favorite - Would Jackie ever pick up the tab on a date? Oh dahling, of course not! Isn't the price of a hairstyle and manicure and new outfit enough to make the man pick up the check? Oh alright then, you are allowed to pay for a few drinks if you are past the dating phase and think the guy might be real marriage material. Seriously. The book even suggests giving Botox a whirl before committing to a facelift. Duh - it's what Jackie would do.
May 15, 2010
As the title suggests, this is a guide to being a lady. In a time when women work in male- dominated industries and feel the pressure to "man" up, here comes a book on how to act feminine and yet stand your ground.
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis embodied style, grace and poise. How would Jackie dress for the office? Are pearls really necessary? Would the First Lady give gift cards at Christmas or present hand-selected gifts? These are the type of questions and more that are answered using Jackie's elegance and practical smarts.
This guide covers the art of looking rich effortlessly while incorporating strategies to move up the career ladder and perfecting your domestic pitch. A worthwhile read for those of us that tend to forget the importance of social etiquette and decorum and can learn the essentials of staying feminine and applying Jackie's philosophies to everyday life.
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis embodied style, grace and poise. How would Jackie dress for the office? Are pearls really necessary? Would the First Lady give gift cards at Christmas or present hand-selected gifts? These are the type of questions and more that are answered using Jackie's elegance and practical smarts.
This guide covers the art of looking rich effortlessly while incorporating strategies to move up the career ladder and perfecting your domestic pitch. A worthwhile read for those of us that tend to forget the importance of social etiquette and decorum and can learn the essentials of staying feminine and applying Jackie's philosophies to everyday life.
October 28, 2010
I couldn't finish this book. Truth be told, I didn't make it very far in. I was hoping d
For a fun read sprinkled with stories fromJackie's life. Instead this is a dull book that occasionally has the strength to rose up and insult my intelligence.
For a fun read sprinkled with stories fromJackie's life. Instead this is a dull book that occasionally has the strength to rose up and insult my intelligence.
January 8, 2013
So what I wanted, and was told I would be getting was a light hearted bit of fashion and life advice that from the life of Jackie O. Instead I got the most annoying book ever about how to live my life assuming that I have access to millionaire men and multiple homes. Not fun.
September 17, 2015
I only enjoyed the style section everything else was ridiculous some of the comments made me cringe/want to scream! Encouraging being a gold digger? Cheating is an inherent quality in men?! Yeah no thanks...
Read
June 26, 2008I cannot even rate this. Not only was it lame, it was not well written, surprising given the background of both writers.
May 20, 2023
Read 2010-2011. Life lessons in hypergamy a la Ms. Bouvier. Very old fashioned advice on every topic under the sun. The content is tongue in cheek and I thought it was a fun read.
July 3, 2012
To continue my book tour of the 1960s...
Updated: Meh. Condescending and preachy in a way Jackie Kennedy was not.
Updated: Meh. Condescending and preachy in a way Jackie Kennedy was not.
July 31, 2017
Some useful advice, but a LOT of eyebrow-raising, did-you-really-just-suggest-that 'advice' as well. I will expound on this at a later date.
October 7, 2018
pointless, out of date and too male centric
February 17, 2019
Not sure why I finished this ridiculous book.
November 25, 2019
What Would Jackie Do? was a unique book that turned Jackie Kennedy's life choices into snippets of advice for readers. This was a quick read because of the format. In one paragraph, the author would give the reader a piece of advice and also use Jackie’s own life as an example of how to execute the advice.�
I enjoyed the book but really would have liked to have half the information and a little more background of each story. This was a book I picked up at different times through the course of a week. I wouldn’t advise attempting to sit down and read this in large portions because there was just too much information packed into these pages!

I liked that the book was divided into many segments that touched on topics of dressing, gift giving, hosting, traveling, even writing thank you notes! This was a fun and light book that provided insight into Jackie's life and how she was viewed. I was really quite surprised that the author had so much knowledge about Jackie. This was a very interesting way to learn about Jackie aside from reading a lengthier biography, that I don't think would have gone into so much detail about her thoughts and feelings.

This was simply a fun read that I would recommend to any fan of Jackie Kennedy.�
I enjoyed the book but really would have liked to have half the information and a little more background of each story. This was a book I picked up at different times through the course of a week. I wouldn’t advise attempting to sit down and read this in large portions because there was just too much information packed into these pages!

I liked that the book was divided into many segments that touched on topics of dressing, gift giving, hosting, traveling, even writing thank you notes! This was a fun and light book that provided insight into Jackie's life and how she was viewed. I was really quite surprised that the author had so much knowledge about Jackie. This was a very interesting way to learn about Jackie aside from reading a lengthier biography, that I don't think would have gone into so much detail about her thoughts and feelings.

This was simply a fun read that I would recommend to any fan of Jackie Kennedy.�
August 16, 2024
I expected this to be a book on poise and etiquette but it was more of a how-to-get-ahead-by-being-advantageous-and-deceptive manual. I feel like it actually disgraces Jackie Kennedy Onassis and speculates on way too much about her life and intentions; I wondered how much was even true and felt like I was reading a tabloid magazine. I picked it up after hearing Kelly Finglass (Director Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders) promote it and was surprised that she would think it a valuable resource for helping young ladies grow in graciousness. More like how to be a gold-digger and toe the line across the board. So many other fantastic modern books out there that teach social graces; skip this one.
April 29, 2020
What Would Jackie Do? Use people to get what you want, apparently. Basically the the end goal for everything (being nice to people, engaging in cultural pursuits, do volunteer work, etc.) is to get stuff for free from others, get perks, and score a rich man.
This book highlighted some unsavory aspects of Jackie K (such as referring to rural student visitors to the White House as "hillbillies" and making references to "fat little women" who are so presumptuous as to copy her fashion sense) as laudable behavior.
This book highlighted some unsavory aspects of Jackie K (such as referring to rural student visitors to the White House as "hillbillies" and making references to "fat little women" who are so presumptuous as to copy her fashion sense) as laudable behavior.
July 12, 2024
This was a fun read and a nice insight as to how Jackie would act in various occasions, should you ever find yourself at a party with Andy Warhol. Although she may have seemed slighted in certain situations, Jackie sure to behave in such a way that she exacted her own little revenge. For example what to wear when your philandering President husband thinks YOU'RE hanging out with an automobile magnate to much. Anyway, this was a very interesting book on Jackie and her exceptional grace.
February 7, 2017
Kind of entertaining, but definitely dated, you know it was written in like 2000 at the very latest. And there was some things besides that I disagreed with; like it encouraged holding a grudge because someone brought an uninvited guest.
Look forward to comparing it with "Unmentionable" when I get home.
Look forward to comparing it with "Unmentionable" when I get home.
January 20, 2020
It's a cute book for little tidbits on elegance and etiquette. Nothing in the book was particularly groundbreaking. I did enjoy the Jackie-isms that were present between chapters, though. Either way, most of the things in this book are probably things you've already heard of before. So, read it for fun!
February 14, 2020
Light hearted and very in character. If you don't look kindly on Jackie's era of womanhood, you wouldn't enjoy this, since a lot of its practical advice is still quite dated in nature. But it's lots of fun to read, I personally got a lot out of it, and learned more about the ever enigmatic JBKO.
December 11, 2021
So old-fashioned as to be hysterical. Oh, the horror of kissing the wrong man—a dull man, a cheap man—on top of the Eiffel Tower! There are so many things wrong with that sentence, I don’t know where to begin. This book could have been so much better.
March 10, 2024
Really enjoyed reading this. Demonstrated how you can add a little more sophistication in your life--not by what you buy, but how you act. Also gives great examples of how Jackie actually did handle a few situations.
March 24, 2019
Interesting. Fun way to learn more about this famous woman.
August 15, 2022
Silly and presumptuous. What would Jackie do? Probably quietly make this book go away.
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June 17, 2023W
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2012
I have always adrimred Jackie as someone who, in the limelight of life, handled such an array of difficult situations with aplomb and grace. I know she was not a perfect person, but if someone has found a formula that works for certain situations I am all for learning the pro's and con's from them. While not actually written by Jackie O the ladies that wrote the book obviously paid attention to her life and did a lot of research. It has a lot of good advice, quite a bit of that is useful for normal humans and a lot of it that is useful if you are a fabulous looking, amazingly rich and well set socially established person with connections, and occasionally accomodating morals. I am not saying that Jackie was immoral, but she dealt with a lot of difficult issues, public and persistent infidelity being a big one, and handled the situation well.. for her situation. The information is to be taken with a grain of salt. It may work for you, it may not. I got it mainly for her savy hints, especially on fashion but there was a whole lot more in the book. It was easy to read and interesting. I did learn quite a bit.
March 18, 2010
Fun and easy read! This book gives concrete stories and first-hand testimonies about how Jacqueline Kennedy handled certain situations in her life: her thoughts on fashion, decorating, manners, hosting, love, careers, motherhood, etc. The book is nicely sectioned off into little blurbs on the different topics, so it is easy just to pick it up and start reading.
I personally loved the inclusion of some of Jackie's favorite recipes, and I liked knowing which brands of make-up and toiletries she preferred. Who doesn't want that Jackie-O glow?
I personally loved the inclusion of some of Jackie's favorite recipes, and I liked knowing which brands of make-up and toiletries she preferred. Who doesn't want that Jackie-O glow?
February 5, 2011
Another one of my manners and ettiquette books! This one analyzes the life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and explains how we can be more like her!
Jackie is a very classy lady. She came from a wealthy, well-to-do family, married into two very wearlthy families, and spent her life in the lime light, yet she never let it go to her head. I would have rather this book been more about Jackie's life, but instead we spent more time reading about the authors' opinion on what Jackie did. I found the book highly entertaining, but not as informative as I would have liked.
Jackie is a very classy lady. She came from a wealthy, well-to-do family, married into two very wearlthy families, and spent her life in the lime light, yet she never let it go to her head. I would have rather this book been more about Jackie's life, but instead we spent more time reading about the authors' opinion on what Jackie did. I found the book highly entertaining, but not as informative as I would have liked.
September 25, 2008
This was a fun read. The book goes into different areas of life: love, makeup, clothing, entertaining, etc. and gives stories about Jackie Kennedy's experiences and how she handled them in various stages of her life. Has lots of stories & recollections from her friends. Not sure how much of it is true. I'd call this book a light lesson on etiquette and style. Some good gentle reminders and ideas on handling various situations gracefully. Light, fun reading.
March 16, 2009
I didn't enjoy this book very much. There are other Jackie books that I liked much better. This book was quite long for the content, which is basically a guide to what a MODERN Jackie Kennedy would be like if she was living in our day. Most of it was speculation. I wished there was more history & stories about her real life. I didn't feel like it really did Jackie justice, it sort of made her feel like a cheap.
August 31, 2009
Fun read about how Jackie O handled all sorts of matters: career, family, marriage, friends, gifting, etc. Makes me realize how much social graces have gone by the wayside. Those of us who try to maintain them get labeled old-fashioned but I think there is no reason why social civility and good manners should be considered outdated. I think I will try to class up my act a bit...WWJD? The "J" for Jackie!
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