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PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • A modern American classic, this huge and galvanizing biography of Robert Moses reveals not only the saga of one man’s incredible accumulation of power but the story of his shaping (and mis-shaping of twentieth-century New York. One of the Modern Library’s hundred greatest books of the twentieth century. Robert Caro's monumental book makes public what few outsiders knew: that Robert Moses was the single most powerful man of his time in the City and in the State of New York. And in telling the Moses story, Caro both opens up to an unprecedented degree the way in which politics really happens—the way things really get done in America's City Halls and Statehouses—and brings to light a bonanza of vital information about such national figures as Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt (and the genesis of their blood feud), about Fiorello La Guardia, John V. Lindsay and Nelson Rockefeller. But The Power Broker is first and foremost a brilliant multidimensional portrait of a man—an extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the democratic process, stepped outside that framework to grasp power sufficient to shape a great city and to hold sway over the very texture of millions of lives. We see how Moses began: the handsome, intellectual young heir to the world of Our Crowd, an idealist. How, rebuffed by the entrenched political establishment, he fought for the power to accomplish his ideals. How he first created a miraculous flowering of parks and parkways, playlands and beaches—and then ultimately brought down on the city the smog-choked aridity of our urban landscape, the endless miles of (never sufficient) highway, the hopeless sprawl of Long Island, the massive failures of public housing, and countless other barriers to humane living. How, inevitably, the accumulation of power became an end in itself. Moses built an empire and lived like an emperor. He was held in fear—his dossiers could disgorge the dark secret of anyone who opposed him. He was, he claimed, above politics, above deals; and through decade after decade, the newspapers and the public believed. Meanwhile, he was developing his public authorities into a fourth branch of government known as Triborough—a government whose records were closed to the public, whose policies and plans were decided not by voters or elected officials but solely by Moses—an immense economic force directing pressure on labor unions, on banks, on all the city's political and economic institutions, and on the press, and on the Church. He doled out millions of dollars' worth of legal fees, insurance commissions, lucrative contracts on the basis of who could best pay him back in the only coin he coveted: power. He dominated the politics and politicians of his time—without ever having been elected to any office. He was, in essence, above our democratic system. Robert Moses held power in the state for 44 years, through the governorships of Smith, Roosevelt, Lehman, Dewey, Harriman and Rockefeller, and in the city for 34 years, through the mayoralties of La Guardia, O'Dwyer, Impellitteri, Wagner and Lindsay, He personally conceived and carried through public works costing 27 billion dollars—he was undoubtedly America's greatest builder. This is how he built and dominated New York—before, finally, he was stripped of his reputation (by the press) and his power (by Nelson Rockefeller). But his work, and his will, had been done.

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Robert Moses, the powerful city planner who shaped New York City and its surrounding region for over four decades.

The book, written by Robert A. Caro, is a detailed and comprehensive account of Moses' life and career. Caro spent more than ten years researching and writing the book, and he conducted extensive interviews with Moses and his associates.

The Power Broker is a fascinating and insightful look at a complex and controversial figure. Moses was a brilliant and ambitious man who had a profound impact on the city of New York. He was responsible for building many of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Triborough Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

However, Moses was also a ruthless and autocratic leader who often ignored the needs of the people he was supposed to serve. He was responsible for displacing thousands of people from their homes, and he often disregarded the environmental impact of his projects.

The Power Broker is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of New York City or in the lives of powerful and influential people. It is a well-written and engaging book that provides a valuable perspective on one of the most important figures in American history.

Here are some of the key themes explored in The Power Broker:

• The power of unelected officials: Moses was never elected to public office, but he wielded more power than many elected officials. This was due to his close relationships with powerful politicians, his control over public funds, and his ability to get things done.
• The importance of infrastructure: Moses believed that infrastructure was essential to the success of a city. He spent billions of dollars on building roads, bridges, and other public works projects.
• The need for public input: Moses often ignored the needs of the people he was supposed to serve. This led to a number of controversies, including the displacement of thousands of people from their homes.
• The dangers of unchecked power: Moses' power was unchecked for decades. This allowed him to do whatever he wanted, regardless of the consequences.

The Power Broker is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power. It is a reminder that even the most powerful people are accountable to the public.