The Power Broker Audiobook By Robert A. Caro cover art

The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

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The Power Broker

By: Robert A. Caro
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
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PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • A modern American classic, this huge and galvanizing biography of Robert Moses reveals not only the saga of one man’s incredible accumulation of power but the story of his shaping (and mis-shaping of twentieth-century New York. One of the Modern Library’s hundred greatest books of the twentieth century.

Robert Caro's monumental book makes public what few outsiders knew: that Robert Moses was the single most powerful man of his time in the City and in the State of New York. And in telling the Moses story, Caro both opens up to an unprecedented degree the way in which politics really happens—the way things really get done in America's City Halls and Statehouses—and brings to light a bonanza of vital information about such national figures as Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt (and the genesis of their blood feud), about Fiorello La Guardia, John V. Lindsay and Nelson Rockefeller.

But The Power Broker is first and foremost a brilliant multidimensional portrait of a man—an extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the democratic process, stepped outside that framework to grasp power sufficient to shape a great city and to hold sway over the very texture of millions of lives. We see how Moses began: the handsome, intellectual young heir to the world of Our Crowd, an idealist. How, rebuffed by the entrenched political establishment, he fought for the power to accomplish his ideals. How he first created a miraculous flowering of parks and parkways, playlands and beaches—and then ultimately brought down on the city the smog-choked aridity of our urban landscape, the endless miles of (never sufficient) highway, the hopeless sprawl of Long Island, the massive failures of public housing, and countless other barriers to humane living. How, inevitably, the accumulation of power became an end in itself.

Moses built an empire and lived like an emperor. He was held in fear—his dossiers could disgorge the dark secret of anyone who opposed him. He was, he claimed, above politics, above deals; and through decade after decade, the newspapers and the public believed. Meanwhile, he was developing his public authorities into a fourth branch of government known as "Triborough"—a government whose records were closed to the public, whose policies and plans were decided not by voters or elected officials but solely by Moses—an immense economic force directing pressure on labor unions, on banks, on all the city's political and economic institutions, and on the press, and on the Church. He doled out millions of dollars' worth of legal fees, insurance commissions, lucrative contracts on the basis of who could best pay him back in the only coin he coveted: power. He dominated the politics and politicians of his time—without ever having been elected to any office. He was, in essence, above our democratic system.

Robert Moses held power in the state for 44 years, through the governorships of Smith, Roosevelt, Lehman, Dewey, Harriman and Rockefeller, and in the city for 34 years, through the mayoralties of La Guardia, O'Dwyer, Impellitteri, Wagner and Lindsay, He personally conceived and carried through public works costing 27 billion dollars—he was undoubtedly America's greatest builder.

This is how he built and dominated New York—before, finally, he was stripped of his reputation (by the press) and his power (by Nelson Rockefeller). But his work, and his will, had been done.

©1975 Robert A. Caro (P)2011 Random House Audio
Americas Business Historical Political Science Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Professionals & Academics Public Policy Sociology United States Inspiring
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Critic reviews

1975, Francis Parkman Prize, Winner

1975, Pulitzer Prize — Biography, Winner

"Caro has written one of the finest, best-researched and most analytically informative descriptions of our political and governmental processes to appear in a generation." (Nicholas Von Hoffman, The Washington Post)

"This is irresistibly readable, an outright masterpiece and unparalleled insight into how power works and perhaps the greatest portrait ever of a world city." (David Sexton, The Evening Standard)

Featured Article: The top 100 classics of all time


Before we whipped out our old high school syllabi and dug deep into our libraries to start selecting contenders for this list, we first had to answer the question, "How do we define a classic?" The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might guess, though there’s a lot to be said for the old adage, "You know it when you see it" (or, in this case, hear it). Of course, most critically, each of our picks had to be fabulous in audio. So dust off your aspirational listening list—we have some amazing additions you don’t want to miss.

Riveting Narrative • Masterful Storytelling • Gripping Human Drama • Meticulous Research • Perfect Pacing • Rich Voice
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I purchased this for my husband because he has always been interested in history. He had just finished the book by the same author, Robert Caro, about Lyndon B Johnson....not someone he cared for. He found this very interesting also and thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. Definitely would recommend this book.

VERY INTERESTING BOOK

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Only Robertson Dean’s deep and generically American voice can do this book justice. Only way he says the word “power” can summarize in that one word the full magnitude of what Caro illustrates in the entire book.

Excellent Narration

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A phenomenal work of investigative journalism that captures the behind the scenes manipulations that shape the lives of New Yorkers every day. Moses was a schemer and an authoritarian despot who was able to capitalize on characteristic that both makes and breaks most New Yorkers—impatience. He built amazing things, usually at devastating expense.

The only reason I did not give this five stars is because there was some coverage that--reading this book many years after it was published--I suspect was left on the cutting room floor. Not much on the Rockaway improvements here, and not a single mention of Jane Jacobs. I will have to follow up by weeding through old Caro interviews to see where those bits went. I'd also be interested in reading some defenses of Moses, just for the sake of equal time.

A few other notes/questions:
1. Why, oh why, is this not available on Kindle? When listening to intense histories I like to be able to refer to the book and notes as I go, and being able to search an ebook for keywords is very helpful in that respect. And also, this is not a book that fits easily into one's purse.

2. The audio performance is ok, but I found it excruciatingly slow, to the point where the voice seemed distorted (perhaps a recording or download glitch?). I found it sounded much more natural when sped up 1.25x (although still a little slow; I listened at 1.5-2x).

3. And finally: This would make a freaking amazing long-form TV series, a modern day, real-world Game of Thrones. Who is sitting on the rights and why isn't it in development with HBO (or Netflix?) already?




A must-read for every New Yorker.

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This was long and grueling, but I’m glad I persevered. It’s a fascinating story about strategic vision, political corruption, manipulation of the public and long-standing decisions/actions that continue to impact the lives of millions of people every day. I strongly recommend.

A must for New Yorkers (with patience)

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A devastating performance. It's difficult for me now to imagine the author producing such a close study of anyone other than Moses, this book is so empathic about him. But I understand he has done so.

Devastating

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A stupendous work of historical narrative, Caro's book is simply an unmissable legend. It is a masterpiece in every conceivable sense--scope, depth and rigor of the information and research, the vividness of the prose and so on.
Worth every second of time spent listening. Dean's voice seems made for this work. I wouldn't be surprised if Caro handpicked him for the role.

Unforgettable

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Comprehensive and full of details about the inner workings of city, state and federal government. Robert Moses remains a polarizing historical figure, however I cannot imagine what NYC, LI and Westchester would look like without his vision and determination.

Required reading for anyone who considers themselves a "New Yorker."

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Would you listen to The Power Broker again? Why?

Absolutely! great writing and great narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Power Broker?

Robert Moses from an idealist to a power monger.

What does Robertson Dean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brought life to the characters in the book.

One of the greatest biography of all times

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What did you love best about The Power Broker?

This was such a wonderful story told about the man behind many of the public works in the NYC-Metro area, which I use every day without giving a second thought to there origins or the man behind it. Robert Caro is easily the greatest biographer I've ever read!

What did you like best about this story?

Detailed research that the writer translates into masterful story telling.

What does Robertson Dean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a soothing, easy voice, and yet is able to change when appropriate for effect.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

66 hours and change? No way would I want to listen to in one sitting. I wouldn't be able to stand again!

Any additional comments?

A wonderful read for anyone who lives in the tri-state area, and especially, for those who go through the daily grind of commuting for work in that area. It's an eye-opening read!

Master Biographer, Robert Caro!

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What made the experience of listening to The Power Broker the most enjoyable?

Basically, if you love Caro's LBJ's books, you'll love "The Power Broker" (and vice versa). Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson's backgrounds were completely different, but both men wielded power in similar ways -- ruthlessly and effectively. Both were capable of great compassion and great cruelty. People who tried to stop them were crushed. And the press excused them over and over again until their destructive ways could no longer be excused or concealed. Caro is brilliant, but he really doesn't know how to edit information. The book was 1,300 pages (66 hours) but even that was cut down from its original 1,700+ pages, and you get the distinct impression that it could have been 3,000 pages or more if Caro could have sold a book that long. Caro, like this book's subject, doesn't really know when to stop. While I appreciate all the detail, the slow pace gets tiresome after awhile. Like most people, Moses's most interesting years were the early ones. As the story goes on, he simply acquires more and more power as he transforms from an anti-corruption idealist to a thoroughly corrupt demagogue of the worst kind -- the kind who cannot be voted out of office. The last 20 hours or so are simply painful to listen to. Moses's claims to be apolitical and always acting in the interest of the taxpayer is revealed to be, in Caro's devastating introduction, "a gigantic hoax."The book is basically an indictment of American journalism for naively believing all the lies and deceptions that people in power like Moses yield. It was only when younger reporters actually started taking a critical view of Moses's activities in the late 1950s that his reputation started to take some well-deserved hits. But Moses had been raping the taxpayer without their knowledge for 30 years by then. "The Power Broker" will make you look at your city's roads, bridges, and freeways in a different light, and make you wonder what the "Parks Commissioner" in your town was really like.

What does Robertson Dean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reading by Robertson Dean was superb.

Good, but too long

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