Eight stars
In hopes of trying to stir up the vibes for Robert A. Caro to complete this multi-volume biography of Lyndon Baines Johnson, I chose to begin a re-read of those tomes already published. This piece tackles some of the power grabbing LBJ was able to complete within the four books already published and crumbs of the last tome to come. Let's see if it works!
This is definitely a great summary of Caro's work and what he discovered on gaining and sustaining power. His two major collections, a biography on Robert Moses and multi-volume piece on Lyndon Johnson, focus on a lot of the power grabs both men took in order to gain, hold, and sustain power in their own way. This piece is also a truncated version of Caro's earlier publication, Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing.
As i have recently read and reviewed the longer analysis, I will do something I do not usually do and refer readers to that summary: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3334980630
This is a great piece for those who want to dip their toe into the water when it comes to discerning how Moses and Johnson sought to get their hands on the reins of power and steer it in their own direction. The ideas Caro mentions are both poignant and powerfully delivered, something that I can only hope will come when he publishes the last of the Johnson volumes (the fifth, rumoured for release since 2015).
As Caro's age creeps up, I am becoming a little more anxious that there will not be a final volume, especially as Caro veered away to write Working, but I have to remain positive and will do my best to be patient!
Kudos, Mr. Caro, for opening up your mind and work process. Now then, get that fifth volume done!
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