The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

By: Robert A. Caro

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 66 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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)

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

A story of an idealist, Robert Moses, who becomes jaded and calloused by the system, who learns to work the system to gain power, and who then proceeds to collect more and more power over his long career. This power corrupts him quickly and completely. You will despise the man and his methods while being fascinated by his cleverness. I debated on whether to give this excellent book 4 or 5 stars, and I only opted for the lower rating because of the length. Moses stayed in power for over 40 years. and there was plenty of material for Caro to write about. After a while, the incidences and conflicts become a bit repetitive. I think It would have held my undivided attention better if some of the repeated stories had been cataloged but not told in their entirety. Caro tells the stories masterfully, and some may wish he related even more. I would have preferred a few less.

wow! still interesting after 35+ years

Great look at a NY icon, or is it megalomaniac? A MUST for folks interested in Politics - especially New York Politics!

Very interesting and well written

Not only is the story very interesting, and the tenacity of the research laudable, but the book is also very well written.
Even when the author follows some side story that would only tangentially add to the core premise of the book, it does so masterfully.
As other have pointed, the one aspect not discussed at length is Moses’ family and family life - the mention of a second wife only happens towards the end of the book.
I didn’t expect I would enjoy so much a book for a parks commissioned, in a city I only have cursory knowledge about, at a very different time.

Where are the Robert Moses of the 21st Century?

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. If you ever want to know the meaning of the word POWER, you found it. This is a book where writing a long story rather than a short one was worth every word! Not only will you revisit history (in a lot of detail) but more importantly, will see the implementation and execution of power in a non-traditional environment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Moses, no doubt!

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

He is able to incorporate "life" to an already well written book.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Persevere to triumph!

the story of one of the most powerful men in NYC

If you want to understand the power dinamics behind the construction of most of NYC, this is a must read. For me the book focuses too much on power and grief and puts aside a better explanation on the construction of the works. Some of the details on Moses biggest achievements like the construction of the UN Building and flushing meddows are incomplete.

Most of all, the story between the fight of Moses and Jane Jacobs is messing. Nevertheless, it is an incredibly detailed biography of Robert Moses and the New York of the early XX Century.

A Brilliant Analysis of Power and its Corruptions

The Power Broker is justly regarded as one of the greatest non-fiction books ever written.
Even Robert A. Caro's magisterial multi-volumes on Lyndon Johnson failed to prepare me for his masterwork on Robert Moses. The Power Broker is an incomparable dissection of power. Not just the power to build bridges and parks, but the power to deny whole groups of Americans access to those parks. Caro shows through exhaustive research how one man was able to define New York City and state, both for good and then increasingly for ill. It's a book that makes the reader thrill to Moses' vision of a network of state and city parks, and recoil at the man's racism in limiting access to those parks predominately to whites. How he did so was ingenious and utterly evil.
Robertson Dean did a stellar job of narrating The Power Broker. He brings to life the characters who run through this tome from Al Smith to Nelson Rockefeller.
Caro and Dean left me wanting more after 66 hours. I have no higher praise.

A triumph

Anyone with interest of the 20th Century, New York, politics or power must listen to this book. Yes, it is long but well worth your Audible coin.

staggering

I have read/listened to a great many histories, and I've never heard anything even close. you really just can't begin to fathom the level of work that must have gone into this. to say nothing of how masterfully the most mundane seeming dramas are played out in truly Shakespearean style. could not be more pleased

Highly recommended!

Definitely a commitment! But a worthwhile one. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in NY and urban issues.

In-Depth and Compelling!

A thorough look at one of the most controversial men in American history. Highly recommend for those who love a biography that tells the full and accurate story. There were some "lulls" - the construction and engineering details were sometimes too mundane, but overall a great book!