SKU: 99685991557

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Sale price$53.55 Regular price$59.50
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 13 - Jul 18

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New YorkEverywhere acknowledged as a modern American classic, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and chosen by the Modern Library as one of the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century, The Power Broker is a huge and galvanizing biography revealing not only the saga of one man's incredible accumulation of power, but the story of the shaping (and mis shaping) of New York in the twentieth century. Robert Caro's monumental book makes public what few outsiders

Everywhere acknowledged as a modern American classic, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and chosen by the Modern Library as one of the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century, The Power Broker is a huge and galvanizing biography revealing not only the saga of one man's incredible accumulation of power, but the story of the shaping (and mis-shaping) of New York in 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.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
Published: 07/12/1974
ISBN: 9780394480763
Pages: 1296
Weight: 4.16lbs
Size: 9.52h x 6.52w x 2.54d

Review Citations: Newsweek 02/16/2009 pg. 49
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 99685991557

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 2065 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Verified Purchase
Spo509
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 3
Not as good as chuck it anymore
Style: Fetch Balls (Pack of 10), Size: 2.5 inch
I have bought these before and the where just like the chuck it balls. These are not those balls. The are lighter and my dog has already cause damage to one
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
jewelrycook
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Bouncy, not hard, and good value.
Style: Fetch Balls (Pack of 10), Size: 2.5 inch
Great balls for the ball launcher and not rockhard like some of the solid rubber balls. These have great bounce, and because of the two holes, they make a fun whistling noise as they fly through the air. My dogs love them and they are a good value. By the way, if you throw them too hard, they will go through chain-link and no climb fence because they squish a bit!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2026
I
Verified Purchase
IT Secure Force
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent dog balls — safe design and very durable
Style: Fetch Balls (Pack of 3), Size: 2.5 inch
These fetch balls from Amazon Basics are fantastic, and my dog absolutely loves them. One of the biggest reasons I prefer these over other brands is the hole that runs through the center of the ball. This is a very important safety feature: if a dog were to accidentally get the ball stuck in the back of the throat, the hole allows air to pass through. That small detail could literally make a life-saving difference. Aside from the safety benefit, they bounce well, are easy to clean, and hold up to a lot of playtime. They’re firm but not rock-hard, and my dog goes crazy for them. Great value, great quality, and a thoughtful design. Highly recommended for dog owners who want a safer alternative to standard solid rubber balls.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
mike
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Great ball for heavy chewers
Style: Assorted Balls (Pack of 3), Size: 2.5 inch
Great toy for my Doberman. She chews through tennis balls in about 15 minutes but these are very durable. She likes to chase them but also just chew on them.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Me
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable
Style: Fetch Balls (Pack of 2), Size: 3 inch
Very bouncy. I like the noise it makes when you throw it. Pretty durable. Good size. Dog loves to play with them. Good material. Easy to use.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2026

recommand products