The Path to Power

The Years of Lyndon Johnson

By: Robert A. Caro

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 40 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the story of the rise to national power of a desperately poor young man from the Texas Hill Country. The Path to Power reveals in extraordinary detail the genesis of the almost superhuman drive, energy, and ambition that set LBJ apart. It follows him from the Hill Country to New Deal Washington, from his boyhood through the years of the Depression to his debut as Congressman, his heartbreaking defeat in his first race for the Senate, and his attainment, nonetheless, at age 31, of the national power for which he hungered.

In this book, we are brought as close as we have ever been to a true perception of political genius and the American political process. Means of Ascent, Book Two of The Years of Lyndon Johnson, was a number-one national best seller and, like The Path to Power, received the National Book Critics Circle Award.

©1981, 1982 Robert A. Caro, Inc. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

forgot how great this was. Caro the master biograp

her. hopefully he finishes the series in our lifetime. and his. narration was very good

Incredible

This is the best history book I have ever read. Absolutely incredible. Brilliant snapshot into how politics in America work.

So worth the time

Amazing chronicle of American history and the workings of power. Loved every minute of it!

Bob Caro tells a good story

Here he relates hundreds of anecdotes using thousands of sources to tell a great story.

At last

A biography of a politician written by someone who understands political power and how it is achieved.

Great listen!

Would you listen to The Path to Power again? Why?

Yes. It is historical and the narrator is perfect for this book.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The narrator is awesome and anyone who enjoys learning a little about Texas history will enjoy the book.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

LBJ

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

LBJ: The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this book.

Fascinating story albeit a tad heavy handed

Carrows book is without a doubt a masterpiece of research, and a fascinating story. However, in an effort to describe every aspect of LBJ's life in elaborate detail, the story occasionally drags.

If Grover Gardener could only pronounce Ickes!

I love Grover Garderner's voice but he mispronounces Harold Ickes name throughout. It's like fingernails across a blackboard to me. I do love his work otherwise.

Conan recommendation- Glad I tried it

I don’t think I would of even known to listen to this book. First audible book! So intriguing it explains a life time not vaguely, including day to day stories that give a real look into a time and a person that only childhood stories can. I appreciate the deep dive into detail the book takes to show you the creation of man from his surroundings, his history before he was born, his hardships, and how his personality effected what he did and who he came to be. I feel like it helps me understand an older time with less technology where I can understand my great grandmother more of times when she grew up. I am ashamed to say I haven’t read a book in a long time and I had to re listen to the first chapter a few times to truly absorb the material but I am glad I did! Thank you Conan for the recommendation and thank you Robert for such a great book ❤️

A surprisingly frank review of LBJs early climb to power

The Path to Power by Robert A Caro, just finished the first volume on LBJ. I must say I found it researched well and enlightening, fascinating to learn not only about LBJ but about what America was like starting in the late 1910s up to the late 1940s. It is biased at points but on balance it seems a fair review of the early life of LBJ. The book is well written and some might find the level of detail excruciating but it always had a purpose for discussing the details so thoroughly. I really enjoyed the walk through history and will read the other volumes of LBJ when I get a chance.