The Power Broker

Caro's massive biography of Robert Moses, the man who shaped modern New York, offering a masterclass in biography writing and revealing how power works in America.

Robert Caro's monumental biography of Robert Moses—the "master builder" who shaped modern New York through bridges, highways, parks, and housing projects—provides unprecedented insight into how political power operates in democratic societies. Through exhaustive research and compelling narrative, Caro shows how one unelected official gained more power than most governors and presidents.

Caro's central theme is how power corrupts even those who begin with idealistic intentions. Moses started his career as a reformer dedicated to improving government efficiency and creating beautiful public spaces, but gradually became an autocrat who destroyed neighborhoods and ignored public input to advance his vision.

The biography's documentation of Moses's methods reveals how power can be accumulated and maintained through control of information, money, and public perception. Caro shows how Moses used bond financing, legal technicalities, and media manipulation to make himself indispensable while avoiding democratic accountability.

The book's analysis of Moses's impact on New York demonstrates how infrastructure decisions shape social and economic development for generations. Moses's preference for highways over mass transit, his routing of roads through poor neighborhoods, and his emphasis on projects serving suburban rather than urban populations fundamentally altered the region's development patterns.

Caro's research methods—including extensive interviews with Moses's associates and examination of previously unavailable documents—set new standards for biographical writing. His ability to make bureaucratic and financial details compelling while maintaining narrative momentum shows how complex political processes can be made accessible to general readers.

The biography's exploration of the relationship between democracy and expertise raises important questions about technocratic governance. Moses's effectiveness as a builder came partly from his ability to ignore political constraints, but this same autonomy enabled him to override legitimate public concerns.

The Power Broker won the Pulitzer Prize and established Caro as America's premier political biographer. Its insights into power, politics, and urban development continue to inform discussions about infrastructure policy, democratic governance, and the relationship between technical expertise and political accountability.