Tag Archives: Robert Caro

My History Crush: Robert A. Caro

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As readers of this blog can probably tell, I have a historian’s affection for Robert Caro. He’s important not only because of the depth of his work, but because of the timely relevance of his studies in power. For those unfamiliar with Caro’s work, he is most famous for his biography of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Released on May 1st, The Passage of Power, is the fourth volume in his The Years of Lyndon Johnson. Caro’s work is known for detailed research, lengthy texts, and unsurpassed storytelling. Caro’s work is important for both the historian and the general public because he takes on the nature of power. He explores the nuance of obtaining, exercise, and impact of power on both individuals and society.

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LBJ: “The Cruel Idealist”

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An excellent and insightful review in The Atlantic of Robert Caro’s new work, The Passage of Power.  This may be one of the better analyses on Caro’s fourth volume in his series on Lyndon Johnson.  The important thing to remember when reading Caro is that he is a master storyteller.  For an equally engaging story with more academic style history, one should look at Caro’s The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.

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Robert A. Caro on the Daily Show with John Stewart

My History Crush: Robert A. Caro

Robert Caro, LBJ biographer on Daily Show

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Robert Caro is the author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson biography.  Broken up into five parts, Caro just released his fourth installment in the series, The Passage of Power in early May.  I’ve read the first three volumes and they are truly excellent history.  Caro’s study of power is insightful, eloquent, and unsparing in both its research and conclusions.   John Stewart interviewed Caro on May 10th, 2012.

(On an peripherial note, Caro reminds me of the late actor John Spencer, a star of “The West Wing”)