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

Robert Caro's The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York is a comprehensive biography that examines the life and immense influence of Robert Moses, a pivotal figure in 20th-century urban planning in New York. Moses, a public official from 1913 until the 1960s, was instrumental in transforming the New York landscape through extensive public works projects.12

His accomplishments include the construction of numerous highways, bridges, parks, and public housing complexes. Moses utilized public authorities to secure funding and bypass government interference, enabling rapid construction of his projects. While his work dramatically shaped New York, his methods and focus on large-scale, impersonal projects eventually became unpopular as community concerns shifted towards preservation. Caro's biography delves into Moses's exercise of political power and its profound impact on the city.231