Book Review: Twenty-Six Seconds by Alexandra Zapruder

“…best intentions notwithstanding, no one can control how the media communicates a story and what the public eventually understands.”

Alexandra Zapruder, Twenty-Six Seconds

Review:

It was interesting to hear about the history of the Zapruder film from the perspective of Abraham Zapruder’s granddaughter. Sad as I am to admit this, the moral questions surrounding the film never occurred to me. Who has the right to own this? Who has the right to watch it? This book discusses questions like these. 

What struck me the most while reading this book was the realization that people in 1963 weren’t used to tragedies being caught on film. On a basic level, of course I knew this, but that fact never resonated on a human level. In the decades that followed, the general public has become accustomed to a constant stream of violent acts, disasters, attacks, etc., on our TVs, computers, and phones. It frightened me that I had to have it spelled out for me to realize that there was a time not too long ago when seeing footage like this was new and nauseating. 

Aside from the film’s history and the life story of Abraham Zapruder, I didn’t find that this book offered anything new to the JFK discussion. I honestly couldn’t tell if the author was for or against the Warren Commission’s findings. She seemed to be somewhere in the middle. This doesn’t make a difference to me, but it’s worth noting for people who are looking to read for one way or another.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• I like the focus on the person behind the film as well as the film itself.
• The emphasis on the moral questions.

What I didn’t like:

• There was repetition throughout, recycling different aspects of the film’s controversy, making the book feel longer than it needed to be.

Afterthoughts:

Regardless of your thoughts on the JFK assassination, this book is a worthwhile read for the life of Abraham Zapruder and the impact of his film.

Where to buy the book: