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Means of Ascent
- The Years of Lyndon Johnson
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 22 hrs and 8 mins
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Publisher's summary
Robert A. Caro's life of Lyndon Johnson, which began with the greatly acclaimed The Path to Power, also winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, continues - one of the richest, most intensive, and most revealing examinations ever undertaken of an American President. In Means of Ascent, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer/historian, chronicler also of Robert Moses in The Power Broker, carries Johnson through his service in World War II and the foundation of his long-concealed fortune and the facts behind the myths he created about it. But the explosive heart of the book is Caro's revelation of the true story of the fiercely contested 1948 senatorial election, for 40 years shrouded in rumor, which Johnson had to win or face certain political death, and which he did win -- by "the 87 votes that changed history."
Caro makes us witness to a momentous turning point in American politics: the tragic last stand of the old politics versus the new - the politics of issue versus the politics of image, mass manipulation, money and electronic dazzle.
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Camelot's End
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- By: Jon Ward
- Narrated by: John Pruden
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The Carter presidency was on life support. The Democrats, desperate to keep power and yearning to resurrect former glory, turned to Ted Kennedy. Camelot's End details the incredible drama of Kennedy's challenge - what led to it, how it unfolded, and its lasting effects - with cinematic sweep. It is a story about what happened to the Democratic Party when the country's long string of successes, luck, and global dominance following World War II ran its course, and how, on a quest to recapture the magic of JFK, Democrats plunged themselves into an intra-party civil war.
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Does character count in political office?
- By marwalk on 07-29-19
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Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero
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- Narrated by: Holter Graham
- Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins
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In Chris Matthews’ extraordinary biography, we see this most beloved president in the company of friends. We see and feel him close-up, having fun and giving off that restlessness of his. We watch him navigate his life from privileged, rebellious youth to gutsy American president. We witness his bravery in war and selfless rescue of his PT boat crew. We watch JFK as a young politician learning to play hardball and watch him grow into the leader who averts a nuclear war.
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What Might Have Been?
- By Mel on 12-06-11
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Bobby Kennedy
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History remembers Robert F. Kennedy as a racial healer, a tribune for the poor, and the last progressive knight of a bygone era of American politics. But Kennedy's enshrinement in the liberal pantheon was actually the final stage of a journey that had its beginnings in the conservative 1950s. In Bobby Kennedy, Larry Tye peels away layers of myth and misconception to paint a complete portrait of this singularly fascinating figure.
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Absorbing
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The Accidental President
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The dramatic, pulse-pounding story of Harry Truman's first four months in office, when this unlikely president had to take on Germany, Japan, Stalin, and the atomic bomb, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
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Exceptional
- By Jean on 11-14-17
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JFK's Last Hundred Days
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A revelatory, minute-by-minute account of JFK’s final days that asks what might have been. Fifty years after his assassination, President John F. Kennedy’s legend endures. Noted author and historian Thurston Clarke reexamines the last months of the president’s life to show a man in the midst of great change, both in his family and in the key issues of his day: The Cold War, Civil Rights, and Vietnam, finally on the cusp of making good on his extraordinary promise.
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In Depth and Beautifully Written
- By grace on 06-03-23
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Ike and Dick
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Richard Nixon was a young Navy officer when he first saw Dwight D. Eisenhower through a storm of tickertape as Manhattan celebrated the end of the war in Europe. Seven years later, Nixon was Eisenhower's running mate on the Republican presidential ticket-the beginning of a political and personal relationship that lasted for nearly twenty years. Despite a gulf that separated them by age and temperament, their association evolved into a collaboration that helped to shape the nation's political ideology.
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He's against NIxon
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Dreamers and Deceivers
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The new nonfiction from number-one best-selling author and popular radio and television host Glenn Beck.
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Astounding History stories gather life
- By Gil on 11-13-14
By: Glenn Beck
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The Politician
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Like a nonfiction version of All the King's Men, The Politician offers a truly disturbing, even shocking, perspective on the risks taken and tactics employed by a man determined to rule the most powerful nation on earth.
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Politician Phony. A must listen!!!
- By Sherman on 02-09-10
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What listeners say about Means of Ascent
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Doug Kerfoot
- 03-12-14
Both Fascinating and Tedious
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This is an absolutely fascinating book and an amazing demonstration of how good it can be when world class research and top notch writing come together. Add in Grover Gardner, one of my favorite readers and you have a great, great story.
Any additional comments?
My only criticism is that there is far too much overlap between this book and the previous book in the series the Path to Power. Both are very worthy books on their own, but it felt like perhaps 20% of this book was directly copied from the Path to Power. Same stories, same wording. It seems as though Robert Caro literally copied and pasted big sections into the 2nd book. Still very worthwhile, but large sections become tedious in this regard.
Now I am rather afraid to listen to the first volume of Master of the Senate in case Caro continues to plagiarize himself! (But I will anyway)
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15 people found this helpful
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Performance
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- Rose Marie Holt
- 03-12-14
LBJ - how he got that way
Would you consider the audio edition of Means of Ascent to be better than the print version?
I haven't read the print version yet. I want audible to provide files like indices, table of contents, and illustrations, perhaps even a companion i or e book even if you must charge a little extra.
Who was your favorite character and why?
LBJ
Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
NO - too long and so good and thorough it would be too much
Any additional comments?
A valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of LBJ's time as well as the backstory on the man himself. Deeply comprehensive yet very well organized.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Carol Grosser
- 08-09-15
Grew Up in the Hill Country
What made the experience of listening to Means of Ascent the most enjoyable?
I laughed at his adequate description of the Hill Country because I grew up in said Hill Country on a dairy farm which became a cattle farm when the state requirements increased beyond my father's finances. On his death, it was found that my father's highest income was when he worked for the county road maintenance, the annual amount was $3000. Johnson brought our family electrical power, but my father discussed his questionable activities politically, i.e. Duval County. I thought LBJ was a hero until Vietnam.
What other book might you compare Means of Ascent to and why?
This book, in its thoroughness, cannot be compared to any other biographical work I have ever read or heard about. It is fascinating!
Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?
All.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, but in Book 1 it is 20 hours!
Any additional comments?
I look forward to all of the series and the as yet unpublished one.
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- jason leclerc
- 06-17-19
mindboggling book on crooked politics
u have to listen to this book to realize how crooked politics could be and how corrupt it was. great book to buy
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- Taylor Myers
- 07-30-19
Caro Does It Again
Loved it! Incredible detail! Caro once again detailed the complicated history of a complicated man.
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- Jim Craig
- 02-19-16
A tremendous storyteller!
Caro is the second best historical writer I've ever read. Given that the first is Shelby Foote, that's as high praise as I can give!
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- rich
- 03-31-16
great book
wonderful book one of the best authors I've ever read can't wait for the remaining volume
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- Phillip Forrence
- 11-23-21
Even better than the first volume!!
It’s so perfect in so many ways, a short review can’t do it justice.
My main takeaway this time was just how important it is to be a good person. I cried a lot during at least three chapters.
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- Jason Voiovich
- 05-22-23
Learning about Coke Stevenson was worth the listen
This book is one of many parts of Caro's epic biographical sketch of LBJ, this time, focusing mostly on the 1948 Senate race. Johnson's numerous campaign innovations were on display – his helicopter, which allowed him to criss-cross the state, radio advertising, and vote-stuffing. Despite all that, he couldn't (really) beat Coke Stevenson. Learning about LBJ's opponent was well-worth the listen.
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- John M
- 02-27-17
Wonderful! Don't let the length turn you off
The sheer length of the entire series (150 hours!) and the subject matter (Lyndon Johnson?) made it a difficult decision to start but it is terrific. As others have mentioned, it isn't just about LBJ, but you really get to learn a lot about the social history of the times - mostly in 1940's Texas, but nationally as well.
And LBJ - what a fascinating, amoral character. Robert Caro mentions in the introduction that this volume differs from the others in that in the other volumes there is a contrast between light and dark in Johnson's personality and accomplishments, but in this book it is only dark. Yes, that is true, but the audacity of LBJ is just amazing to be a part of. Caro's writing style really makes you feel you are there.
It is hard not to compare politics then and now - there are plenty of similarities, but my one takeaway is that we survived corrupt politicians then and we can survive them now. In many cases, it shows that we are so much better off with the information and transparency we have now. It is hard to remember or acknowledge that sometimes, but compared to what was going on in the late 40's, we are incredibly enlightened and transparent. It also shows how truly hard it is to steal an election - even successfully.
So take the plunge and listen. It is time well spent.
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5 people found this helpful