Phil in SF reviewed The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro
Deserves all the accolades
5 stars
This biography really deserves all the accolades it has received over the decades. It's strengths are that it really goes into how Robert Moses acquired power, how he maintained it, and how he wielded it. If Caro pulled any punches, I don't think it would change any impression of Moses overall. This has the good, the bad, and especially the ugly. It's not comprehensive though, as no biography of a man in power from 1924 to 1968 ever could be. But still, if you want to find out much about his personal life beyond his formative years, or his involvement with dam-building in upstate New York, for instance, you'll need to consult other sources for anything in depth. But boy howdy does this go into depth on what Moses did on Long Island and in New York City.
This biography really deserves all the accolades it has received over the decades. It's strengths are that it really goes into how Robert Moses acquired power, how he maintained it, and how he wielded it. If Caro pulled any punches, I don't think it would change any impression of Moses overall. This has the good, the bad, and especially the ugly. It's not comprehensive though, as no biography of a man in power from 1924 to 1968 ever could be. But still, if you want to find out much about his personal life beyond his formative years, or his involvement with dam-building in upstate New York, for instance, you'll need to consult other sources for anything in depth. But boy howdy does this go into depth on what Moses did on Long Island and in New York City.