For the sheer magnitude, depth and authority of its revelations, The Power Broker stands alone---a huge and galvanizing biography revealing ...
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May 21, 2008
Jessica
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This is definitely the greatest book that I have ever read.
Midway through adolescence, I began wondering a bit which life event would finally make me feel like an adult. Of course I had the usual teenaged hypotheses, and acted accordingly to test some of them out. Getting drunk? Having sex? Driving a car? Going to college? None of these things did make me feel grownup; in many instances, their effect was the opposite. I had a brief thrilling moment of maturity when I voted for the fi More...
Midway through adolescence, I began wondering a bit which life event would finally make me feel like an adult. Of course I had the usual teenaged hypotheses, and acted accordingly to test some of them out. Getting drunk? Having sex? Driving a car? Going to college? None of these things did make me feel grownup; in many instances, their effect was the opposite. I had a brief thrilling moment of maturity when I voted for the fi More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Mishka
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i have never been afraid of hyperbole so here goes: i bow down before the greatness of this book. i can separate my 10 years living in new york as pre-caro and post-caro. every aspect of my life in new york, the subway, the roads, parks, politics (current and historical), every detail of mishka brown's highly anticipated treatise 'what i would do if i was in charge - the new york city edition' (yes, i talk about myself in the third person) is influenced by this book...this book is so vast, so fa
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Oct 03, 2007
Jerry
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Although many folks know he is responsible for parks, bridges, roads, and tunnels - did you know that he reformed the budget system for the state of New York? Did you know that he was an Ivy League do gooder that never had a real paying job until he was more than 30 years old? Did you know that he spent his entire young adulthood trying to reform government? Did you know that the man most responsible for the highway, bridges, and tunnels of NYC, never had a driver’s license? He was chauffer
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Sep 24, 2007
Michael
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Robert Caro's exhaustive, yet compelling biography of Robert Moses should be required reading for anyone in or considering public service. Moses held more power than Mayors and Governors in New York for over 40 years, without ever having to be elected. Though he did once mount a disastrous run for Governor of New York.
Many of the passages are amazing and even humorous, specifically the relationship and petty moves and counter-moves between Moses and Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in the 1930s. T More...
Many of the passages are amazing and even humorous, specifically the relationship and petty moves and counter-moves between Moses and Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in the 1930s. T More...
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Jan 28, 2009
Mjackman
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Bob Caro has a readable way of drawing you into Moses' life story, and shows Moses' fascinating transformation from reformer to ramp-builder. I was unaware that progressives actually *embraced* the automobile and big plans to clear "slums" back in the "good old days." I guess lots of reformers came up saying, "You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs." (An apt epitaph for Moses.)
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Aug 30, 2007
Mark
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Long before Robert Caro, a former Newsday reporter, began his seemingly endless series of Lyndon Johnson biographies (last volume is in production now), he wrote this absolutely brilliant portrait of Robert Moses. I knew very little about the man before reading it. Afterwards, I understood not only the deep extent of his political power in New York, but the fact that he was responsible for many of the city's major parks, bridges and the infamous Cross-Bronx Expressway. A man driven by ego and th
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Jan 13, 2012
J
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If there is one book you want read besides a religious book, I would make this that book.
We all have ideas, and few of us can even create a vision, but unless you have power it will never go anywhere.
Most people who obtain power will gloss over on how they obtained power and only reveal the positives so we all end up thinking that powerful got there because they deserved it.
This books uncovers the truth about power.
Let me state this that al More...
Feb 14, 2011
Jeremy
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If you only read one 1162-page book this year... read this one. Wow. Having just finished this, it's hard to say which achievement is more monumental: Robert Moses's commandeering of New York's byzantime infrastructure to serve his own ambitious vision--the book makes an open-and-shut case for Moses, whom many have never heard of and never served in public elected office, being the most important and powerful man in the history of New York--or Robert Caro's ability to write a definitive biograph
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Feb 13, 2011
Steven
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1162 pages of well researched text is what Robert Caro uses to tell the story of planner and political power Robert Moses. Over decades of service, Moses reshaped New York (both the city and the state) and other public structures. He began as a reformer; over time, he arrogated more and more power to himself--and still remained rather out of sight as a figure. He used his power sometimes unconcerned about the implications for citizens. The Cross-Bronx Expressway, for instance, displaced many peo
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Dec 20, 2010
Tom
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A must read if you're interested in the 20th century history of New York City.
Robert Moses was the symbol of the insane amount of power and clout not only in New York City/Long Island, but New York State between the 1920s and the 1970s. If you've driven on a highway, expressway or parkway or sat in a park in New York City or Long Island, chances are it's there because of Robert Moses. Because of the loopholes in law which he knew, there was very little in the way of bureaucracy involve More...
Robert Moses was the symbol of the insane amount of power and clout not only in New York City/Long Island, but New York State between the 1920s and the 1970s. If you've driven on a highway, expressway or parkway or sat in a park in New York City or Long Island, chances are it's there because of Robert Moses. Because of the loopholes in law which he knew, there was very little in the way of bureaucracy involve More...
Sep 01, 2010
Todd
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this book was recommended by a business school professor and sat on my mental bookshelf for a dozen years. I should not have waited. One of the cover blurbs uses the word "magisterial" about this book and it is so appropriate I can now hardly think of another word to describe it; it's simply one of the best (if not the best) non-fiction books I've ever read. Most important, Caro's compelling writing keeps you interested and motivated through this huuuge ((1,100+ pages) book. He helps
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Aug 22, 2011
Rudolf
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I mentioned that I was reading this book to several people, and all of them asked me who Robert Moses was. Maybe no one will ever know who he really was, but this book can explain to you (in exhaustive detail) how he totally reshaped New York (city and state) during the 1920s-1960s. It will leave you with a sense of awe for the circumstances that transpired to give one man so much power over the infrastructural future of what was arguably the Twentieth Century's most important city. Parts of
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Feb 12, 2011
Mike
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Robert Caro writes his prose in this one like the Pixies played rock: loud/quiet/loud. Turn to any page, and the pattern's there -- long paragraphs with detail and description, lulling you with their slow progression, interrupted by terse interjections, paragraphs two lines or maybe three: "The World's Fair gave Robert Moses a billion dollars to spend on power, and he got his money's worth." "And Moses on the defensive was a more attractive sight than Moses on the attack."
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Jun 22, 2010
Evan
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There have been so many superlatives heaped upon this book that I will try not to repeat them, but will likely stray. This book sat on my "to-read" shelf for over a year, peering ominously, before I decided to pick it up. I thought it would take me at least three months to finish it. It took me three weeks.
Caro carefully sets up and provides payoffs for his accounts of routine meetings of obscure municipal boards as if he's writing about the Congress of Vienna. He paints a More...
Caro carefully sets up and provides payoffs for his accounts of routine meetings of obscure municipal boards as if he's writing about the Congress of Vienna. He paints a More...
Oct 01, 2011
Howard
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Possibly the most lucid and revealing exposition on the nature, pursuit, and the consequences of political power ever written. Caro's first book traces the life and career of Robert Moses, the man who, perhaps more than any other, shaped the face of New York City in the 20th century. Yet he never held any elected political office, instead directing massive public building projects through a variety of interlocking public commissions and appointed offices over more than 45 years of public service
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Feb 18, 2011
Dan
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This is a remarkable book, the type of book that I imagine myself recommending to friends 10-15 years from now as frequently as if it were a current bestseller. (It took me a full month to read.) The breadth of Caro's research is simply stunning; I have seen comparisons between Caro's epic histories and Gibbon's work in the 18th century, and they hold up.
I do wish I could give 4.5 stars to this book. I had two complaints--one stylistic and one substantive.
Stylistic - I wi More...
I do wish I could give 4.5 stars to this book. I had two complaints--one stylistic and one substantive.
Stylistic - I wi More...
Nov 29, 2011
Matt
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This is, quite possibly, the finest biography ever written, if not the finest book ever written. That may sound like a bit of hyperbole, but this book truly must be read to be believed. Robert Caro takes the life of arguably the most powerful man never to hold elected office in American history and is able to fashion a 1000+ page masterpiece that has a gripping narrative structure, yet is meticulously researched and written. This should be required reading for anybody who is either interested
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Dec 27, 2011
Erik
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The best book ever written about New York and its cast of characters in the twentieth century. They are all here: Tammany Hall sachems, Beau James, Al Smith, Fiorello La Guardia, Justice Seabury, Franklin Roosevelt, the Rockefellers, Mayor Lindsay and a cast of lesser known but equally colorful characters. Caro is like a modern day Tacitus. Combine Jim Sleeper's The Closest of Strangers and you have the whole story. Someone needs to do a similarly detailed expose and tough investigation on the G
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Aug 29, 2009
Roger
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Finally finished this classic biography of Robert Moses. After reading Robert Caro's bios of LBJ, I was not surprised by the depth of detail in this book. Mr. Caro certainly does not leave any doubt on his feelings about Mr. Moses and his policies. Since this book was written in 1974, NYC and the suburbs are still reeling from Mr. Moses carcentric transportation views. The Second Ave subway is just being built. The MTA is still in the red. Moses did a lot to build the NY Metro infrastructu
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Jul 16, 2009
Emily
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If there was ever an argument for corruption in government, it might be lurking in these pages. From what I have heard, Caro's portrayal of Moses may be a bit overblown, but this is one of those non-fiction books that is so compelling and so much fun to read that you end up feeling an intense loyalty to its particular version of the story -- regardless of how historically inaccurate it may be. Anyway, it is undisputed that New York looks the way it does today in large part thanks to Robert Mose
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Jun 16, 2008
Robert
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Anyone interested in urban planning or for that matter cities and politics must read this.
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Mar 27, 2011
Ken
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There are so many great things about this book, from its structure to its lessons on urban planning, to its portrait of power politics in New York. Robert Moses, the man who did not know how to drive, kills public transportation in NY to build the modern auto-centered city.
This book is a fascinating portrait of a fascinating and hugely influential man. And the writing is marvelous: crisp, precise, it’s a model for top-notch nonfiction writing.
If you have any interest in h More...
This book is a fascinating portrait of a fascinating and hugely influential man. And the writing is marvelous: crisp, precise, it’s a model for top-notch nonfiction writing.
If you have any interest in h More...
Feb 04, 2010
Johanna
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This was an excellent overview of both Robert Moses and the development of modern New York. The two main problems were that by page 800 or so, Caro obviously disliked Moses so much that the episodes were predictable. And there were still about 400 pages to go! I read this book while on bedrest, perhaps one of the few times I will ever have to sink into a topic like this, but it did give me an incredibly englightening perspective on urban development and how influenced major urban projects can
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Dec 30, 2009
This is a very long book with exhaustin research but fascinating. It portrays and individual who creates and builds
bridges, highways and parks in New York City. He manipulates most of the mayors of New York, the Governors and even clashes with Franklin Roosevelt. In the end Robert Moses' thirst for power and disdain for anyone who disagrees with him becomes his ultimate downfall.
This book researched so completely by Robert Caro, points out thow easily poere can be taken from poli More...
bridges, highways and parks in New York City. He manipulates most of the mayors of New York, the Governors and even clashes with Franklin Roosevelt. In the end Robert Moses' thirst for power and disdain for anyone who disagrees with him becomes his ultimate downfall.
This book researched so completely by Robert Caro, points out thow easily poere can be taken from poli More...
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Jul 18, 2010
Robert
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I am a big Robert Caro fan. I suspect his writing style is not universally loved. He research is so detailed and his books are not for someone who wants a quick read. I like details and I am fascinated by the complexity of the people he writes biographies about.
This book is essential reading for anyone who is interested in 20th century American history. It is about perhaps the most powerful and influential man in the mid portion of the 20th Century in the US who no one has ever hear More...
This book is essential reading for anyone who is interested in 20th century American history. It is about perhaps the most powerful and influential man in the mid portion of the 20th Century in the US who no one has ever hear More...
Feb 04, 2012
Brian
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This book is a truly fascinating study for those interested in the urban history of New York, political power, or urban development. It clearly looks at the rise of Robert Moses who would go on to hold 12 different state, local and private positions including president of the World Fair. Through these interlocking positions Moses would command the resources to build almost all of the major roads, bridges and parkways in the five boroughs today. The story of how these roads came into being is fas
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Nov 13, 2011
Mallie
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Truthfully, I only read about the first half but I'm going to mark it down as read since I did read quite a bit of it and I see that as an accomplishment! This is one dense book.
Favorite quotations:
"The city in which the shaping by his hand is most evident is New York, Titan of cities, colossal synthesis of urban hope and despair. It had become a cliche by the mid-twentieth century to say that New York was 'ungovernable,' and this meant, since the powers of governm More...
Favorite quotations:
"The city in which the shaping by his hand is most evident is New York, Titan of cities, colossal synthesis of urban hope and despair. It had become a cliche by the mid-twentieth century to say that New York was 'ungovernable,' and this meant, since the powers of governm More...
Dec 29, 2011
Sean
rated it:
Anyone from New York City, its outer boroughs, or Long Island owes it to themselves to read The Power Broker. Upon its completion, the reader will never view their home or its surrounding environs the same.
Having spent my entire life living a short car ride away from Jones Beach, I always had a vague awareness of its prolific builder. Living on Long Island you inevitably hear tales of Robert Moses, his public works, and his reputation as the man who 'got things done.' However, not More...
Having spent my entire life living a short car ride away from Jones Beach, I always had a vague awareness of its prolific builder. Living on Long Island you inevitably hear tales of Robert Moses, his public works, and his reputation as the man who 'got things done.' However, not More...
Jul 31, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
WOW, WOW, OH MY GOD, This is one of those books that has you calling everyone you know telling them how they must read this book. Its absolutely mind boggling,facinating, amazing and really quite scary what this evil genius accomplished. Truth is SO much stranger than fiction! This is one of those books where your a different person when you finish the book then when you start(,and thats not due to the time factor involved in reading this big ass sucker)
For many years Ive More...
For many years Ive More...
