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About 150+ pages in and I see why the book comes to about a thousand plus pages. Calling it a biography would be diminishing to scope attempted here. Characters in the world Robert Moses get mini-biographies within the book. This is world building.
Robert A. Caro on the Secrets of Lyndon Johnson’s Archives (Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson) - While this is on a different subject matter. This highlights his approach to research and writing. - newyorker.com/magazine/2019/…
Another article on his writing style - The Magic Binoculars: Robert Caro's Writing Secrets - perell.com/blog/robert-ca…
About 300 pages in and we are getting into the thickness of subject. His rise and character change over from idealism to practically and ending in power hungry individuals with no check to his vices (classis, racism and inability to accept dissent opinions).
Also his love of parks reminds me partly of Leslie Knope. With his ambitious love for parks, their creation in his image and their maintenance.
Weird, reading how a man can be tool simply because of his capacity to deliver public goods within a machinery, that is designed to be in constant gridlock due to conflicting personal intrests. Political systems must produce an anomaly to efficient. Hence, Robert Moses.
Sometimes success is an enemy. You forget to reinvent yourself. "Bob Moses has climbed so high on his own ego, has become so hide bound in his arbitrariness, that he has removed himself entirely from reality and insulated himself within his own individuality."
It taxes your attention. It taxes yourself. It taxes your efficiency. You deny yourself the option to say no, because the opportunity seems so amazing to waste. You don't find systems to replicate your genius. All these affects the work.
My understanding of the book is limited my lack of familarity with New York state and City (although the author is very descriptive, but words can only do so much). About half way and you get urban development is about how many balls you can juggle while ultimately, being a crook
Christ, Robert Moses was an extremely petty, racist, bully intelligent efficient individual. Understanding how one can take tolls on roads and bridges and turn it into economic/political power is fascinating.
Makes you suspect PPP projects in developing countries if a government decides overinvest in them. Moses used the law to gain and protect his power. Developing countries lack of strong legal institutions may be a dobule edged sword.
Urban planner have been singing the answer to congestion problems on road since the 60's is to focus on mass transportation and stop policies that subsidises cars. More roads and parking space are not answer to free roads. Yet, politics will refuses to focus on this.
Can't reall blame politics more of how society is structured, long term, high investment projects that threatens property rights and needs coordination over government terms against short term roads? Its an easy bargain.
Shakespeare in the Park has a longer history than I thought. Been in existence since 1954.
Finished and the book earned is volume. (not something a lot of books do). But then again when writing about a larger than life figure. Anything less than this would have been an injustice.
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