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)

Fascinating

It is so cool to hear about the inner workings of Mr. Caro's methodology. I'm so grateful for this collection.

How good is the narrator?

This is what natural narration sounds like. I have scores of Audible audiobooks. Not one narrator comes close to Mr. Caro who sounds clear, authentic and utterly self-effacing. This makes it very easy to focus upon what he is saying. Sometimes, perhaps more often than not, a performance is not called for.

Excellent and insightful

Listening to Caro describe his research and writing process on Moses and Johnson is fascinating. That Caro devoted his entire adult life to studying and writing about two men is astounding. And to hear him describe what he was ultimately studying—power and how it affects different people—is to understand what Caro was ultimately chasing. So looking forward to the fifth and final volume of the Johnson series. Bravo!

An amazing, intelligent biographer

Great narrator. Explaining his lifetime body of work, his diligence and obsession for detail to explain the attainment of, access and use of power by the unelected and the elected.

Don't Miss This Book

I loved this book and would recommend listening to it on Audible. The author's narration adds to the experience.

Long stories of powerful personalities from a liberal point of view

Caro writes very long prose about two powerful people from a left leaning view point. While deeply researched asking about the people affected he never seems to be able to bring to conclusion what the long term effects of the changes these men made. Example: Johnson passed education bills, and spending went up but were students bettered? Did more spending and federal government control produce better education? Caro what were the outcomes?

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.

Good book; terrible narrator

Robert Caro should never narrate another book!
I struggled but finished through the entire book.
I learned about Robert Moses by listening to this book for which I’m grateful.

Mr Caro’s research allowed me to better understand Lyndon Johnson which has given me a understand how he accomplished much during his presidency even though he lacked personal integrity.

Thank you, Robert Caro.

The Power Broker was a revelation for me. Hearing Robert Caro discuss his methods for researching and writing was an education in itself. Excellent in every way - glad I found this.

A privileged window into Caro

His books are incredible, so not surprisingly his process is incredible. A must read for anyone who has enjoyed the Powerbroker or the Years of Lyndon Johnson, or any biography or history writer