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Phew, that was a long one! 66 hours but fascinating and well written. In-depth (like, really in-depth) look at the career of Robert Moses and how he obtained, used, and eventually lost power over public works in New York in the early and mid 20th century. A definite pick if you‘re interested in politics and policy and how cities and regions are shaped. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Robert Moses began his career as someone trying to improve New York City. The longer he remained there, the more power he acquired and wielded. What Caro shows is that Robert Moses was a power hungry, vindictive, racist megalomaniac, on his best days. What you see is the rise and all too late of fall old New York City‘s Parks Commissioner

This book is boring, and you know it. Rather than slogging through this (unless you actually are interested in reading a three page description of what Robert Moses had for breakfast) read "Wrestling With Moses" by Anthony Flint.

In his obsessive #ambition, Robert Moses built bridges and parks that destroyed neighborhoods, traditions, historical landmarks; made public transportation inaccessible and basically created more problems than benefits for NYC

#reallyrandomfebruary
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I started reading this tomb of a book last week. Great so far. I never knew the administrative evolution of a city could be so interesting. But it's also a fascinating bio of a very ambitious and important historical figure.

As long as you were fighting for parks, you could hardly help being the hero. [...] [Moses] would put it this way: As long as you're fighting for parks, you can be sure of having public opinion on your side. And as long as you have public opinion on your side, you're safe. “As long as you're on the side of parks, you're on the side of the angels. You can't lose.“
p. 218

Finally finished reading this book after slightly more than a year. A chunkster but a good read if you are interested in the subject.
Have tagged it as "something with politics" for #nonfiction2019

These print books from my TBR shelf with #occupationintitle really show my eclectic taste in books (I am hoping it is acceptable for the occupation to be that of a non-human). Biography, historical fiction, mystery and fantasy. I love all 4 genre!
#fallintobooks

Will I be able to get through the 1162 pages of this tome?

Robert Moses was known for designing and building New York City's roads, bridges, parks from the late 1930s to early 1970s. But in his zeal, he created marvels inspired by the designs of the Worlds Fair in NYC. Sadly his massive roadways and bridges destroyed neighborhoods, communities, public transit, jobs, and mobility for those who didn't travel by cars on the high speed through-ways...

A long well researched comprehensive look into the man who shaped New York for over 50 years

I have a jammed packed day ahead of me, but I'm going to participate in @deweysreadathon as much as I can. Thank goodness for #audiobooks! I'm continuing this one to start. HAPPY READING Y'ALL! #readathon #audible #thepowerbroker #robertcaro #robertmoses #NYC #kvnreads17

#SeasonsReadings2016- #setonanisland

Maybe 2017 is the year I'll actually read this entire book.

#PhotoADayNov16 -#planestrainsautomobiles-

"By building his highways, Moses flooded the city with cars. By systematically starving the subways and suburban commuter railroads, he swelled that flood to city-destroying dimensions."

#Booktober - #ilikebigbooks - Two big books I'm reading (The Power Broker and Middlemarch), one I want to read (The Family Mashber), and one I want to reread (Daniel Deronda).

Bob Caro reading from The Power Broker at Pulitzer 100 celebration at Harvard.

Congratulations to Robert A. Caro, who'll be presented with our medal for lifetime achievement at the 2016 National Book Awards!

http://www.nationalbook.org/amerletters_2016_rcaro.html

Part of big summer reading list! This may go into fall, winter ...

This Frances Perkins quote sums it up perfectly. What a fascinating read!

Listening to this 66 hour tome and am absolutely loving it.

Reading the interview with Robert Caro in The Paris Review makes me want to devote the next year to just reading about Lyndon Johnson, but I know it sounds better in theory than it would be in practice.