Then Everything Changed

Stunning Alternate Histories of American Politics: JFK, RFK, Carter, Ford,Reagan

By: Jeff Greenfield

Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Jeff Greenfield

A brilliant and brilliantly entertaining tour de force of American politics from one of journalism's most acclaimed commentators.History turns on a dime. A missed meeting, a different choice of words, and the outcome changes dramatically. Nowhere is this truer than in the field where Jeff Greenfield has spent most of his working life, American politics, and in three dramatic narratives based on memoirs, histories, oral histories, fresh reporting with journalists and key participants, and Greenfield's own knowledge of the principal players, he shows just how extraordinary those changes would have been.These things are true: In December 1960, a suicide bomber paused fatefully when he saw the young president-elect's wife and daughter come to the door to wave goodbye...In June 1968, RFK declared victory in California, and then instead of talking to people in another ballroom, as intended, was hustled off through the kitchen...In October 1976, President Gerald Ford made a critical gaffe in a debate against Jimmy Carter, turning the tide in an election that had been rapidly narrowing.But what if it had gone the other way? The scenarios that Greenfield depicts are startlingly realistic, rich in detail, shocking in their projections, but always deeply, remarkably plausible. You will never think about recent American history in the same way again.

Critic reviews

Praise for Then Everything Changed:

"Political junkies always play the 'what-if' game. Jeff Greenfield has taken it and turned it into something else entirely - a trio of thought-provoking, interesting, and downright clever scenarios which remind us just how much individuals do matter."
-Bob Schieffer

"Jeff Greenfield is a wonderful story-teller and a keen student of politics. A powerful what-if book that seems painfully, tantalizingly real."
-Evan Thomas, Author, The War Lovers, Sea of Thunder, and Robert Kennedy: His Life

"Filled with fresh revelations and brilliant speculation, Jeff Greenfield's alternative history is so detailed and persuasive - and the behavior of its protagonists so utterly believable - that it feels like reality itself. This is a remarkable feat of insight, imagination, and storytelling."
-Richard North Patterson

Change comes 3 times.

Would you consider the audio edition of Then Everything Changed to be better than the print version?

Yes.

What did you like best about this story?

The alternate histories.

Which character – as performed by Michael Kramer – was your favorite?

LBJ. The man knows how dt do Southern accents.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

What Could have Been.

Any additional comments?

I'm sure any alternate history fan will give this a listen.

Truly in-depth

This by far is the most well researched most in-depth book I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to about alternate history. A lot of it is on the nose. But I guess that’s the point. But does not take away the enjoyment of the storytelling.

Stunning performance

The narrator/voice actor absolutely nailed the voices and accents of every major politician from 1960 through the mid-80s. I didn’t want the book to end, just so I could listen to him more.

Even better than I expected

Having seen Jeff Greenfield on TV for many years I expected a well thought-out, well researched collection of alternative histories, but what I didn't expect was it to be so well written that I felt that it brought me into the hall of power, as his new history played out. BIG kudos to Micheal Krammer for his performance bringing these well know modern historic figures to life.

Another interesting view into alternate history

Jeff Greenfield does it again in this well-reaearched and plausible sequence of alternate events in our history. It is always interesting to imagine what if. Jeff does so with the benefit of intricate historical knowledge and a powerful imagination. This work reveals and puts a twist on many inflection points throughout the last 60 years of geopolitical history. An entertaining departure!