Means of Ascent

The Years of Lyndon Johnson

By: Robert A. Caro

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 22 hrs and 8 mins

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.

©1990 Robert A. Caro, Inc. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Eye opener

A rare book that makes you see the world differently. Couldn’t stop listening, Brilliant reading.

LBJ: WWII, Congress, & run in 1948 for US Senate

"A platform, he said in his dry way, was like a Mother Hubbard dress: it covered everything and touched nothing. Platforms and campaign promises were meaningless; politicians issued them or made them, and then as soon as they were elected forgot them."
- Robert A. Caro, Means of Ascent, quoting Coke Stephenson

This was a different book from Caro's Vol. 1 of the Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power. 'The Path to Power' detailed the rise and early history of LBJ. It set the table. It showed LBJ as a boy, showed the Hill Country. It described his father (so much of LBJ can be explained by his complicated relationship to his father). It moved through LBJ's college career, early political connections, and how all the attributes that made LBJ who he was were formed. It ended as LBJ lost the 1941 election for the US Senate to W. Lee O'Daniel. He basically had the election, out stolen from him. He lost focus too soon.

This book starts off with LBJ's brief stint in the Navy after Pearl Harbor, his attempt and failure to move up in D.C. (with FDR, with Truman, in congress with the Party). He was stuck. So it moves on to LBJ using the power he had, to buy a radio station in Austin. One that would later be the source of his and Lady Bird's enormous wealth (it is amazing how many of our politicos enter DC rich and leave quite rich).

The last half of the book details the 1948 Senate election when LBJ ran against Coke Stephenson for the Texas Senate seat. At this point, it becomes almost a dual biography. One of opposites. Coke was old school, honest, thoughtful, popular, low key. In many ways he resembled LBJ's father. Caro never said it directly, but in many ways he didn't need to. LBJ's character was formed as a reaction to his father's unwillingness to get into the gutter. LBJ was all ends. He would use whatever MEANS were required. And in 1948, that meant MONEY and corruption.

Anyway, it was hard to decide to give this 5-stars. It wasn't as impressive a book, in some ways, as Vol 1. However, it was beautiful. I loved reading about Coke. Coke was a good counterbalance to LBJ's style. But it is hard, too, not to admire LBJ's work ethic and his ability to take enormous risks and sometimes his brilliant ability to read and use people.

The book is also a lesson on how we are also suckered by the exact things we think we want badly. I'm pretty sure, the men who bought/brought LBJ into office certainly loved some of the things he did, but I'm not sure they would ever have thought their "Man" would eventually pass the Civil Rights Act and much of his great society agenda. Eventually, many would come to regret their man. LBJ was never anyone's man.

Exceptional!

So much has already been written by people far more eloquent than me about Robert Caro's masterwork The Years of Lyndon Johnson, that I think any elaboration here is unnecessary. I will just say, after having listened to all four of the available volumes, that I wait with bated breath for the next volume to be published, and I earnestly hope the audiobook will again be narrated by the inestimable Grover Gardner.

Morr Grover please!

A fantastic book as all have been in this series, read by the master. Let's Robert Caro and Grover Gardner team up again for the final volume.

Excellent history of LBJ. Texas. The 48 election and more

Impeccably researched and written as a great narrative. Wish I had read when many of my older friends and relatives were alive. Those who lived through that era. Would be interesting to compare their memories. But excellent book and trilogy.

Robert Caro is a Great Historian!

Means of Ascent is the continuation of the Lyndon Johnson biography. The author has done a fabulous job of researching, and finding, many facts about Johnson that the former President tried assiduously to keep under wraps. A thorough, compelling story of the man’s life and times. Mr. Caro covers all those close to him, also. Lady Bird, the incredibly loving, patient wife; Sam Rayburn and Sam Johnson’s, both honest men with high standards; long working, poorly paid employees; so many voters that were cheated because of this man. Detailed and honest. Truly a wonderful experience.

Great history of Johnson.

Well written and performed book, especially interesting were the details from the individuals present at the events.

Thorough look at the rise to the senate by LBJ

Well written and thorough with lack of reverence for the subject although this was disclosed up front. All in all, a great listen.

Years of Lyndon Johnson best bio ever.

Probably the best nonfiction book I've ever read/ heard. Read it from the very beginning. Means of Ascent climaxes with a nailbiter court case.

a must read for everyone

this is definitely a must read! a little known President and his not so honest rise to power. current event are mirroring history once again.