The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume 1)

Very Thorough. Interesting take on Lyndon. Can't wait to read Wood's biography of Lyndon to compare the two.

An encyclopedic work covering the first half of LBJ life. Caro lays out the dynamics which shaped the future President. He draws a portrait of deeply complex man whose singular focus on the acquisition of power left him utterly devoid of morality. LBJ used government to do many great things for the dispossessed people of Texas during the great depression. The question that you are left with...more

An encyclopedic work covering the first half of LBJ life. Caro lays out the dynamics which shaped the future President. He draws a portrait of deeply complex man whose singular focus on the acquisition of power left him utterly devoid of morality. LBJ used government to do many great things for the dispossessed people of Texas during the great depression. The question that you are left with after reading this phenomenally well written book is whether the ends justified the means.   hide

I read this first as a teen, and still rate it as the best biography so far. Btw, this is a three-volume set covering the early, middle, and end of his remarkable life.

Stunning. Occupies the lonely pinnacle of American historical biography. Robert Caro paints a picture of LBJ and the world he inhabited with such detail, wit, and thoroughness that writers of all other biographical volumes on the 36th president (or any president, for that matter) should burn their manuscripts in embarrassment. Though this, the first in a three (soon to be four)...more

Stunning. Occupies the lonely pinnacle of American historical biography. Robert Caro paints a picture of LBJ and the world he inhabited with such detail, wit, and thoroughness that writers of all other biographical volumes on the 36th president (or any president, for that matter) should burn their manuscripts in embarrassment. Though this, the first in a three (soon to be four) volume set, spends nearly 800 pages in getting you only to 1941 before it's over, you'll barely notice all the time you've spent with your nose buried in the thing, and you'll mourn its loss just a little by the time you reach the end. Only a little, because I can't wait to run home and get started on "Means of Ascent". Astounding. Sincerely the best book I have EVER held in my own two hands, without exception.   hide

Best biography I've ever read, bar none.

Awesome. Caro's approach is to write several books all in one, giving you all of the sub-stories so that you understand his main tale. His chapter on life in the Texas Hill Country before rural electrification brought electric power to the area is masterful - he actually makes you want to read how difficult it was to wash laundry by hand.

Awesome, awesome, awesome!

The Johnson series is probably the finest non-fiction I have read.

Captivating. A fascinating study of the evolution of political campaigns in mid-20th century America, American power structures, and, of course, the enigmatic LBJ.