Working

By: Robert A. Caro

Narrated by: Robert A. Caro

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

"One of the great reporters of our time and probably the greatest biographer." (The Sunday Times, London) 

From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Power Broker and the Years of Lyndon Johnson series: an unprecedented gathering of vivid, candid, deeply revealing recollections about his experiences researching and writing his acclaimed books.

For the first time in audiobook form, Robert Caro gives us a glimpse into his own life and work in these evocatively written, personal pieces. He describes what it was like to interview the mighty Robert Moses and to begin discovering the extent of the political power Moses wielded; the combination of discouragement and exhilaration he felt confronting the vast holdings of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin, Texas; his encounters with witnesses, including longtime residents wrenchingly displaced by the construction of Moses' Cross-Bronx Expressway and Lady Bird Johnson acknowledging the beauty and influence of one of LBJ's mistresses. He gratefully remembers how, after years of working in solitude, he found a writers' community at the New York Public Library and details the ways he goes about planning and composing his books.

Caro recalls the moments at which he came to understand that he wanted to write not just about the men who wielded power, but about the people and the politics that were shaped by that power. And he talks about the importance to him of the writing itself, of how he tries to infuse it with a sense of place and mood to bring characters and situations to life on the page. Taken together, these reminiscences - some previously published, some written expressly for this book - bring into focus the passion, the wry self-deprecation, and the integrity with which this brilliant historian has always approached his work.

©2019 Robert A. Caro (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"As an audiobook performer, Robert Caro doesn't display much polish, but there could be no finer voice for describing his career as an investigative writer.... That distinctive, indigenous voice transforms what would have been a stray assembly of reminiscences, old interviews, and magazine pieces into a compelling narrative of the writerly life.... Caro is 82, and the story he tells is an inspiration to every would-be writer, told with authenticity - and artistry - that no polish could enhance." (AudioFile Magazine)

“Superb.... Writing with customary humor, grace, and vigor, Caro wryly acknowledges the question ‘Why does it take so long’ to produce each book. Caro provides both the short answer - intensive research - and a longer, illuminating explication of just what that entails.... The results may take longer, but, as readers of Caro’s work know, it is always worth the wait. For the impatient, however, this lively combination of memoir and non-fiction writing will help sate their appetite....” (Publishers Weekly) 

“The iconic biographer...offers wisdom about researching and writing.... In sparkling prose, Caro...recounts his path from growing up sheltered in New York City to studying at Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia to unexpectedly becoming a newspaper reporter and deciding to devote his life to writing books.... The author shares fascinating insights into his research process in archives; his information-gathering in the field, such as the Texas Hill Country; his interviewing techniques; his practice of writing the first draft longhand; and his ability to think deeply about his material. Caro also offers numerous memorable anecdotes.... Caro’s skill as a biographer, master of compelling prose, appealing self-deprecation, and overall generous spirit shine through on every page.” (Kirkus Reviews)  

Good as always.

I've been a Robert Caro fan for a while, The Power Broker was one of the first books I bought when I joined Audible in 2012 and I'd list his LBJ series as my all time favorite book (when taken as a whole). While this book isn't the final LBJ book that I've been waiting for, I decided to buy it to support an author that has given me so much enjoyment.

The book itself is enjoyable, it's full of anecdotes of his time researching his books and my rating reflects that. A little over 1/2 of the book is actually articles released in magazines like the New Yorker collected here, the rest is apparently semi new (but not entirely).

The biggest negative though is that the Audible original On Power that was released a couple of years ago is basically large sections from this longer work condensed down, and there were several parts that I thought were better done in abbreviated form On Power. Having previously listened to On Power I knew many of the stories and often the sections in this book were word for word duplicates of On Power. There are some interesting new sections, but for anyone who's listened to On Power this will be very repetitive. I'd almost think of this as an uncut extended version of On Power more than an unique work.

I'm happy to support Caro, but just like the disappointment with the Audible Original of Micheal Lewis's The Coming Storm which was really just the last part of the The Fifth Risk, Audible needs to do something about releasing sections of a book as an Original and then charging us twice for basically the same work (in each case the longer more complete work was released a little while after the Audible "Original"). If you haven't bought On Power skip that and just get this work, 90+% of that original is contained in this work.

Glad to have more Caro, just wish it was more unique.

Interesting

Robert Caro is one of my favorite biographers. In this book Caro discusses his life but mostly provides information about how he and his wife do research about a topic. The number one take away I got from this book is do not hurry, take your time and do it right. He tells of hours in the archives, reading other people’s work, newspaper articles, diaries and letters. He also tells of traveling around doing interviews with people. He spent years doing the research, gathering material, organizing it and then analyzing it. The last thing he does is the writing.

A lot of the information in this book can be found in his book “On Power” and in his other essays, etc. I think he put together a collection of his shorter essays that discuss his writing and research methods and stuck them into this book. For those of us who have read most of his writings, this is all old material except for some pearls provided about research. I am tempted to give this only three stars; but because it is Caro, I will give it four stars.

The book is seven hours and fifty-five minutes. Caro narrated the book. It is great to hear him tell about what he does.

Masterful historian and writer.

This background story makes the Moses and LBJ books incrementally more meaningful. I have both the audible and the print versions. I sometimes listened to the voice of the author while reading, but found that going back to review important passages in print enhanced and clarified more complex issues. I strongly recommend this book for any student of government at any level, and for all citizens who share my concern about current trends.

Excellent book!

This book adds a valuable dimension and context to Caro's already invaluable bibliography.

Highly recommended!

History that lives

What a pleasure to listen to Robert Caro for an afternoon, he is a wordsmith who makes history live and breathe. Mr. Caro delights his readers with details, both of the subject and times.
To listen to his voice is an unexpected treat.

so this is how he does it!

Caro is a national treasure. 40+ years of analyzing power as no one ever has.

whatever he does...

Caro has ruined biography - everything else is so little, so limp-wristed, half-hearted - whatever he writes is apparently valuable

Caro’s words should be a primer for every historian

I have read all of Caro’s books, and to hear his stories of his research is like visiting old friends. Although I read the Power Broker in the ‘70s, the accounts of the farmer on Long Island and the Bronx neighborhood are as vivid as if I had just read them; having his accounts of how he wrote those sections is a true gift to his readers. The same for the LBJ books.

I am a huge fan

I’m a huge fan of Robert Caro. I have read all his books with the exception of the Power Broker which is on my list. I do wonder if he ever considers the unintended consequences of the Great Society’s entitlement programs. Many black people blame Johnson for contributing to the breakup of the nuclear black family. The dependence created by these entitlement programs has provided for a solid block of voters for Democrats. I noticed that when he refers to the Senate opponents of the Civil Rights Acts he always refers to them as “Southerners” and never Democrats. And he doesn’t give Republicans like Everett Dirksen any credit for the success of the bills. I’m not an expert but I feel that there’s a bit of a whitewash going on. I still admire Mr. Caro and am grateful to him.

absolutely best

really insightful book about power and writing. I love hearing Robert Caro's voice. there are so many good stuff here.