Caro is an amazing researcher and writer. He’s one of the best. The Power Broker is one that many people claim they have read, but didn’t. It’s a great book, but it takes a commitment to complete it that many lack. The LBJ books flow more smoothly and are where Caro really came into his own. There is no better series of books than those.
As a degreed, published historian, I love Robert Caro. I've seen him in the stacks here at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. Never have I tried to meet him, because he's so focused in his work. Can't wait for the 5th LBJ book to come out. When my dad ran our Congressman's DC office, LBJ was our Texas senior Senator. Being around the Johnson family all of my life, Caro's works will be the closest anyone gets to the truth... ✍🏻
@chrisdawson9312 That her idea of a "neighborhood" was a bunch of romantic nonsense. The outcome of stopping development was wealthy people living in renovated 4 story buildings, not a vibrant community. Walk around the Village and look at the designer dressed people with their expensive cars and dogs.
I’ve recommended this book to at least 50 people since I read it 50 years ago. Moses was a heartless, soulless GIANT of NY’s greatest projects. Moses (what an ironic name) is an amazing PLUS with a blood soaked soul. Like so many giants: Powerful and Dangerous, Very Dangerous. Bob.
Reading The Power Broker has become an item on young New Yorkers’ adult checklist. The Power Broker is a spellbinding biography that wraps a busy half-century around the finger of a single, unforgettable protagonist. Moses was America’s greatest builder. The corrupt, cruel, arrogant man who constructed highways, bridges, parks, and housing projects on a scale not seen before or since.
I'm glad Robert Caro and 'The Power Broker,' as well as of course the negative and ugly side of Robert Moses' legacy are getting a lot more mainstream attention nowadays! I'm just a little disappointed they didn't really delve deep into the sheer destruction that Robert Moses was responsible for. Uprooting entire districts and wiping off the map entire neighborhoods to make room for highways and ugly government buildings. This report felt like it was only giving all that a passing mention. The man essentially terraformed New York City for the automobile. Not to mention doing all this at the expense of mass transit systems and of course, the New York City Subway.
Robert Moses built the raised railroad track that the Highline was created on to prevent the many street level railroad deaths on the West Side in the 1920s. Like most of his projects, it was well built enough to still be around. I don't believe that you will find his name on any of the descriptive materials along the Highline path though.
So I have the word that all those who were displaced by Moses’s roads do NOT utilize them on a regular or fairly regular basis, out of principle ….. Right????
The men and women that worked for the guy loved him. For people that could engineer and design incredible stuff, he brought the work and raised the money. Even Caro admits in his book that Moses was never after money for himself, and in fact his estate when he died was only worth $50K.
Many of the projects that Moses wanted built but that were denied, should have been built when viewed in hindsight. NYC and LI are so bad traffic wise that congestion pricing was placed on the table a while back, but thankfully killed as it would have been an economic blight on the area. Unfortunately, the city and state are essentially broke now, and there is no magic cure for the lack of money or the will to build new or rework existing highways. Robert Caro misjudged Moses, and now NYC is paying the price.
It’s not just New York or 1 guy lol. It’s the same in almost every city in America. We need to learn from other countries when it comes to infrastructure. I live in CT and the traffic here is ridiculous. Everyday in the same spot the traffic is backed up where this HOV lane lets out and then clears up right after… every. Single. Day.
Moses renovated Central Park from a Tammany Hall run sh-thole into the beautiful park it is today. He built 658 playgrounds in NYC, 23 public swimming pools, and added 2.6 million acres to the state park system. In New York City, every culinary delight and fashionable garment arrive on trucks that use the highways he built. Those highways you are whining about have been packed with vehicles every time I have been on them. It's what the people wanted. The New York Times carried water for Moses almost his entire career, versus the Post who went after him. Mention that too.
Caro is an amazing researcher and writer. He’s one of the best. The Power Broker is one that many people claim they have read, but didn’t. It’s a great book, but it takes a commitment to complete it that many lack. The LBJ books flow more smoothly and are where Caro really came into his own. There is no better series of books than those.
As a degreed, published historian, I love Robert Caro. I've seen him in the stacks here at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. Never have I tried to meet him, because he's so focused in his work. Can't wait for the 5th LBJ book to come out. When my dad ran our Congressman's DC office, LBJ was our Texas senior Senator. Being around the Johnson family all of my life, Caro's works will be the closest anyone gets to the truth... ✍🏻
Two best nonfiction books I've ever rad were The Power Broker and Master of the Senate. Both by the great Robert Caro.
Read
Just started reading this last week. Things I wish I knew... It's over 1000 pages.
It's worth it dude. So good.
Would love to read the removed chapters on Jane Jacob's battle with Robert Moses
hopefully that chapter can get published
The part of Manhattan that Jacobs protected from development is full of rich people now.
@@johnmcmahon5225 what’s your point?
@chrisdawson9312 That her idea of a "neighborhood" was a bunch of romantic nonsense. The outcome of stopping development was wealthy people living in renovated 4 story buildings, not a vibrant community. Walk around the Village and look at the designer dressed people with their expensive cars and dogs.
@@johnmcmahon5225 and you think that was the case in the 1960’s? Also, would you consider a highway as more valuable than those neighborhoods?
Caro needs an exhibit for himself. He deserves it.
Excerpts from Caro's book was required reading in one of my classes...
Fantastic interview
I’ve recommended this book to at least 50 people since I read it 50 years ago. Moses was a heartless, soulless GIANT of NY’s greatest projects. Moses (what an ironic name) is an amazing PLUS with a blood soaked soul. Like so many giants: Powerful and Dangerous, Very Dangerous. Bob.
Reading The Power Broker has become an item on young New Yorkers’ adult checklist. The Power Broker is a spellbinding biography that wraps a busy half-century around the finger of a single, unforgettable protagonist. Moses was America’s greatest builder. The corrupt, cruel, arrogant man who constructed highways, bridges, parks, and housing projects on a scale not seen before or since.
One of the greatest nonfiction books ever. Mr. Caro is a master.
Caro is a true journalist. Today’s media need to learn.
Listen to the 99% Invisible podcast with Roman Mars which is covering the book throughout this year. It’s a great listen!
I'm glad Robert Caro and 'The Power Broker,' as well as of course the negative and ugly side of Robert Moses' legacy are getting a lot more mainstream attention nowadays!
I'm just a little disappointed they didn't really delve deep into the sheer destruction that Robert Moses was responsible for. Uprooting entire districts and wiping off the map entire neighborhoods to make room for highways and ugly government buildings. This report felt like it was only giving all that a passing mention.
The man essentially terraformed New York City for the automobile. Not to mention doing all this at the expense of mass transit systems and of course, the New York City Subway.
I grew up in the Chicago area, never heard of this until now. Interesting.
It's a fantastic book. Royko's book on the 1st Daley is a similar book about Chicago and the Daley machine which is well worth reading too.
@@jojopuppyfish Read that years ago. Thanks
Robert Moses built the raised railroad track that the Highline was created on to prevent the many street level railroad deaths on the West Side in the 1920s. Like most of his projects, it was well built enough to still be around. I don't believe that you will find his name on any of the descriptive materials along the Highline path though.
So I have the word that all those who were displaced by Moses’s roads do NOT utilize them on a regular or fairly regular basis, out of principle ….. Right????
I'm not familiar with "The Power Broker", but his LBJ books are fantastic!
Anxiously awaiting the fifth volume!
Would love to see a film about this Moses guy, sounds like a proper monster!
The men and women that worked for the guy loved him. For people that could engineer and design incredible stuff, he brought the work and raised the money.
Even Caro admits in his book that Moses was never after money for himself, and in fact his estate when he died was only worth $50K.
Motherless Brooklyn is a fiction version
As plucking cords, how out of tune is lemon pushing sales harming the customers?
Many of the projects that Moses wanted built but that were denied, should have been built when viewed in hindsight. NYC and LI are so bad traffic wise that congestion pricing was placed on the table a while back, but thankfully killed as it would have been an economic blight on the area. Unfortunately, the city and state are essentially broke now, and there is no magic cure for the lack of money or the will to build new or rework existing highways. Robert Caro misjudged Moses, and now NYC is paying the price.
It’s not just New York or 1 guy lol. It’s the same in almost every city in America. We need to learn from other countries when it comes to infrastructure. I live in CT and the traffic here is ridiculous. Everyday in the same spot the traffic is backed up where this HOV lane lets out and then clears up right after… every. Single. Day.
Kids today don’t learn cursive, so they won’t be able to read the notes. I’m going to this exhibit.
Moses renovated Central Park from a Tammany Hall run sh-thole into the beautiful park it is today. He built 658 playgrounds in NYC, 23 public swimming pools, and added 2.6 million acres to the state park system. In New York City, every culinary delight and fashionable garment arrive on trucks that use the highways he built. Those highways you are whining about have been packed with vehicles every time I have been on them. It's what the people wanted.
The New York Times carried water for Moses almost his entire career, versus the Post who went after him. Mention that too.