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The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York Audiobook
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(4.01) - 2,789 listener ratings
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Everywhere acknowledged as a modern American classic, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and chosen by the Modern Library as one of the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century, The Power Broker is a huge and galvanizing biography revealing not only the saga of one man's incredible accumulation of power, but the story of the shaping (and mis-shaping) of New York in 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.
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"It took me three months to get through this epic biography, but I loved every minute of it. The best crash course you could ever get in 20th c. NYC history. Caro's portrait of Moses is nuanced--he certainly takes him to task for his arrogance and deafness to the public will, and is highly critical of his evasion of democratic processes. He does not lose sight, however, of Moses as a man and of Moses as a man who did succeed where others failed."
— Avigail (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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Surely the greatest book ever written about a city.
— David Halberstam -
A masterpiece of American reporting. It's more than the story of a tragic figure or the exploration of the unknown politics of our time. It's an elegantly written and enthralling work of art.
— Theodore H. White -
The most absorbing, detailed, instructive, provocative book ever published about the making and raping of modern New York City and environs and the man who did it, about the hidden plumbing of New York City and State politics over the last half-century, about the force of personality and the nature of political power in a democracy. A monumental work, a political biography and political history of the first magnitude.
— Eliot Fremont-Smith, New York -
One of the most exciting, un-put-downable books I have ever read. This is definitive biography, urban history, and investigative journalism. This is a study of the corruption which power exerts on those who wield it to set beside Tacitus and his emperors, Shakespeare and his kings.
— Daniel Berger, Baltimore Evening Sun -
Fascinating, every oversize page of it.
— Peter S. Prescott, Newsweek -
A study of municipal power that will change the way any reader of the book hereafter peruses his newspaper.
— Philip Herrera, Time -
A triumph, brilliant and totally fascinating. A majestic, even Shakespearean, drama about the interplay of power and personality.
— Justin Kaplan -
In the future, the scholar who writes the history of American cities in the twentieth century will doubtless begin with this extraordinary effort.
— Richard C. Wade, The New York Times Book Review -
The feverish hype that dominates the merchandising of arts and letters in America has so debased the language that, when a truly exceptional achievement comes along, there are no words left to praise it. Important, awesome, compelling--these no longer summon the full flourish of trumpets this book deserves. It is extraordinary on many levels and certain to endure.
— William Greider, The Washington Post Book World -
Apart from the book's being so good as biography, as city history, as sheer good reading, The Power Broker is an immense public service.
— Jane Jacobs -
Required reading for all those who hope to make their way in urban politics; for the reformer, the planner, the politician and even the ward heeler.
— Jules L. Wagman, Cleveland Press -
An extraordinary study of the workings of power, individually, institutionally, politically, and economically in our republic.
— Edmund Fuller, The Wall Street Journal -
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 -
Caro's achievement is staggering. The most unlikely subjects--banking, ward politics, construction, traffic management, state financing, insurance companies, labor unions, bridge building--become alive and contemporary. It is cheap at the price and too short by half. A milestone in literary and publishing history.
— Donald R. Morris, The Houston Post -
Irresistible reading. It is like one of the great Russian novels, overflowing with characters and incidents that all fit into a vast mosaic of plot and counterplot. Only this is no novel. This is a college education in power corruption.
— George McCue, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Awards
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Winner of the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for Biography/Autobiography
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Winner of the 1975 Parkman Prize
The Power Broker Listener Reviews
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" Quite possibly the best book i ever read and one of the most amazing true storys. Im trying to find out if hbo ever went through making a series or a movie was made. "
— Jeff joseph, 6/14/2024 -
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ettore indiano, 7/26/2021
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Jay Kramer, 11/13/2020
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Robert Jacob, 9/27/2016
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Andyjc , 7/27/2015
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" Much to textbook-y. "
— Caitlin, 2/16/2014 -
" Powerful elegy for New York's past, or unjust hatchet job on a man who, in the words of Eliot Spitzer, "got things done?" Either way, a classic book about governance and urban planning that should not be missed. "
— Jimmy, 2/10/2014 -
" good read, especially for Long Islanders. very long. "
— Andrew, 1/18/2014 -
" I took an entire college course on this book. Unbelievably educational. As a life long New Yorker it opened my eyes to things I had grown up taking for granted. "
— Michael, 1/15/2014 -
" Excellent. Long read, but a great read. "
— Rick, 1/5/2014 -
" If you like urban history, urban development, politics, or New York City, this is a great book. But it is Super Long. "
— Nelsie, 12/22/2013 -
" I read this in college and it got me hooked on Caro. "
— Cynthia, 11/30/2013 -
" Epic story of capital and control. Brutally overwritten but the weight of the story makes it alright. "
— Ben, 11/16/2013 -
" Wow! The author did a fantastic job with research and character analysis. "
— William, 8/31/2013 -
" The perfect book for a planner in NYC, given to me by my boss/professor. It's really, really long, but you will learn a ton about the history of New York in general and its infrastructure development in particular. Really good, but quite a commitment. "
— Dawn, 8/6/2013 -
" With every 100 pages, I admire Robert Moses a little bit more. "
— Jenny, 7/21/2013 -
" The best book ever written about American government. One of the few books I have ever read more than once. Truly great book. "
— John, 6/1/2013 -
" Fascinating. A riveting portrait of a megalomaniac and the city he changed forever. "
— Laura, 5/2/2013 -
" This beast is my summer project... "
— Jessica, 4/19/2013 -
" Well-written, very dense, but insightful overview of Moses. "
— John, 4/1/2013 -
" An incredibly detailed look not only at Robert Moses' life but the lives of those around him and a vivid look at the history of New York and how Moses transformed it, for better or worse. "
— Topdop, 12/2/2012 -
" Took me about two years to finish. It's hard to imagine a more thorough biography or piece of nonfiction. Some truly great scenes/images. A must for any New Yorker with a lot of patience. "
— Dan, 4/22/2012 -
" Very interesting study of how power is accumulated and then lost. Robert Moses is not a well known figure, but he should be; he is the modern day Hadrian (sp?) and did it in the tough town of New York. Bloated, but still worth the read. VERY lengthy. Plan to spend some time reading this book. "
— Jeff, 1/1/2012 -
" Loved this!! The most suspenseful biography I've ever read. Highly recommended. "
— Kristen, 11/11/2011 -
" The werewolf book I co-wrote with Bob Powers just came out, and I was in the mood for something without any werewolves in it. So, far- so good. "
— Ritch, 8/10/2011 -
" Still great after nearly forty years. Having an interest in the history of New York helps one wade through the detail. "
— Rolin, 4/5/2011 -
" A book so good that it makes me wish Goodreads offered a 21-star rating. Anyone who wants to know how American politics REALLY works should read this book. "
— Craig, 3/31/2011 -
" Okay, I've been working on this book for years. I love the storytelling, and I love the information and details Mr. Caro puts into his work. But there's JUST SO MUCH of it. Dense and complex, this is a book I keep trying to finish. Hopefully I will, because what I've managed to read is amazing. "
— Deb, 3/28/2011 -
" Loved this!! The most suspenseful biography I've ever read. Highly recommended. "
— K.h.tracey, 3/6/2011 -
" One of my first introductions to the power of good research. A fascinating look into the mind and life of a man who shaped the built environment of the state of New York like no other. "
— Stephen, 2/21/2011 -
" The best non-fiction I've ever read. On so many levels, this book explains how and why New York City is what it is. <br/> "
— David, 1/22/2011 -
" The single best work of non-fiction I have ever read. For me, it's the standard by which I judge other biographies. Yes, it is very long, but Caro writes so well that every chapter goes by quickly. Your jaw will drop many times when you read about the the gall and megalomania of Robert Moses. "
— Bradydale, 11/25/2010 -
" For Collin and Brendan...you are correct "
— Justin, 10/29/2010 -
" This is the man most responsible for the present day footprint of New York City; he designed the thruway and bridge system now in place and also was the force behind the New York World's fain in 1969. A ver long book but entertainingly written. "
— Richard, 9/2/2010
About Robert A. Caro
Robert Allan Caro is an American journalist and author known for his celebrated biographies of United States political figures Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson. His The Power Broker, a biography of New York urban planner Robert Moses, was chosen by the Modern Library as one of the hundred greatest nonfiction books of the twentieth century. For his biographies, he has won two Pulitzer Prizes in Biography, the National Book Award, the Francis Parkman Prize, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, the H. L. Mencken Award, the Carr P. Collins Award from the Texas Institute of Letters, the D. B. Hardeman Prize, and a Gold Medal in Biography from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Robertson Dean
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.