Brief summary

The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro is a biographical work that delves into the life and career of Robert Moses, a highly influential figure who shaped New York City's urban landscape and wielded immense political power. It offers a fascinating exploration of power and its consequences.

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The Power Broker
Summary of key ideas

The Rise of Robert Moses

In The Power Broker, Robert A. Caro explores the rise of Robert Moses from an idealistic reformer to New York’s most powerful man. Moses began his career believing in the ideal that power should be used for public good. Surprisingly, he was not an elected official but used his positions in various public authorities to embark on ambitious public works projects.

Caro meticulously documents Moses's early years, his education, and his struggle to establish himself in a politically charged New York environment. With the outbreak of the Great Depression, Moses seized the opportunity to launch a series of public works, effectively creating the infrastructure of modern New York. He managed to hold onto power and influence, bypassing the democratic process with his exceptional skills in drafting legislation and manipulating legal and financial instruments.

Building New York’s Infrastructure

Moses's grand vision for New York led to the creation of parks, highways, bridges, and even whole neighborhoods. He was responsible for the construction of significant landmarks such as the Triborough Bridge, Jones Beach, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the United Nations' headquarters. Moses's initiatives transformed the landscape of New York City and the surrounding region, fostering economic growth and changing the way New Yorkers lived, worked, and played.

However, his strong-willed, autocratic approach met growing resistance. His plans disregarded local communities, resulting in social injustices and displacement. Critics argued that Moses's unchecked power, which he wielded without political accountability, combined with his vision of a city designed for cars rather than people, led to the devastation of neighborhoods and the alienation of communities.

The Fall From Power

As The Power Broker progresses, we witness the increasing resistance to Moses's authority. The climax of these controversies arrives with his ambitious plan for a Lower Manhattan Expressway, which would have resulted in the destruction of neighborhoods in SoHo and Little Italy. A coalition of activists led by journalist Jane Jacobs mounted strong opposition to this scheme, marking a turning point in Moses's career.

The defeat over the expressway marked the beginning of the end for Moses. Caro paints a portrait of Moses’s last years as tragic, with the once-powerful figure becoming increasingly isolated and powerless. Stripped of his positions and authority, Moses was left to ponder his legacy from the sidelines of the city he had shaped.

Legacy and Impact

In the end, The Power Broker is a study of power and how it operates. Caro explores how Moses, who had never been elected to public office, was able to shape New York City's destiny for more than three decades. The author prompts us to question if the ends justified the means and whether Moses's vision of progress outweighed the human cost.

The book leaves us with a complex and layered view of Robert Moses. While his contributions to the development of New York City are undeniable, the social cost of his ambitious projects continues to be a subject of debate. The Power Broker serves as a cautionary tale about the concentration of power and its potential to shape cities and lives, often at substantial human cost.

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What is The Power Broker about?

The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro is a comprehensive biography of New York urban planner Robert Moses. The book provides an in-depth look at Moses's rise to power and his impact on the city's development. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Caro reveals the complex and often controversial ways in which Moses shaped the landscape of New York City.

About the Author

Robert A. Caro is a renowned American biographer and historian. He is best known for his monumental work on the life of American urban planner Robert Moses, titled 'The Power Broker'. Caro's meticulous research and captivating storytelling have made him one of the most respected non-fiction authors of our time. His other notable works include the multi-volume biography of President Lyndon B. Johnson, starting with 'The Path to Power' and 'Means of Ascent'. Caro's books offer extraordinary insights into the lives of influential figures and the dynamics of power.