Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

eppur_se_muova

(39,774 posts)
Sat Aug 2, 2025, 01:24 PM Aug 2

There's a petition to get Robert A. Caro's "The Power Broker" published in its uncut, 1,050,000 word glory. Sign here.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/publish-the-powerbroker-uncut

n 1974, almost exactly 50 years ago, Robert Caro submitted the final, fully edited 1,050,000 word manuscript of The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York. Only a few people have ever read that full version. A full 300,000 words were cut to fit the book into a single volume.

Says Caro,"To this day, when someone says: “There’s hardly a mention of Jane Jacobs,” I think, “but I wrote a lot about her.” Every time I’m asked about that, I have this sick feeling."

It's missing a whole chapter devoted to Jacobs, and only Caro knows how many other richly reported details we're missing from the current 1,246 page version.

This petition is a request from Caro's devoted fans and ardent readers: let us read the full, uncut version of this still relevant {an understatement}, brilliant work!

*************************



To: Alfred A. Knopf, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and Penguin Random House LLC
From: [Your Name]

As devoted fans and ardent readers of Robert Caro, we believe we deserve a chance to read the full, uncut masterpiece that is The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.

There are thousands of us eager to read the completed 1,050,000 manuscript that still resides in Robert Caro's papers. This is the 50th anniversary of this mighty work, a perfect time to announce the upcoming release of the director's cut.

Make it so!
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
There's a petition to get Robert A. Caro's "The Power Broker" published in its uncut, 1,050,000 word glory. Sign here. (Original Post) eppur_se_muova Aug 2 OP
I'll sign it as I read the book years ago. I worked at Newsday in the '80s and '90s... brush Aug 2 #1
The LBJ series is amazing. Fifth volume is still in the works; I hope he lives to finish it. eppur_se_muova Aug 2 #2
Fantastic. So rich with detail, such a great writer. brush Aug 2 #3
I'm in. Found a published edition at my library. Caro wrote "Means of Ascent", one of my favorite books. txwhitedove Aug 3 #4

brush

(61,018 posts)
1. I'll sign it as I read the book years ago. I worked at Newsday in the '80s and '90s...
Sat Aug 2, 2025, 03:47 PM
Aug 2

in the editorial art department. Robert Caro worked there too for a few years as an investigative reporter. The book, still long, is a page turner and hard to put down.

I vaguely remember seeing Robert Caro in the hallways at Newsday before the he became famous. Guess he was researching the book then.

One quote of his on Robert Moses I remember...may have been to the staff, and I'm paraphrasing: "Absolute power not only corrupts, it also reveals."

His book on LBJ is equally fascinating.

eppur_se_muova

(39,774 posts)
2. The LBJ series is amazing. Fifth volume is still in the works; I hope he lives to finish it.
Sat Aug 2, 2025, 06:30 PM
Aug 2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Years_of_Lyndon_Johnson#Book_Five

He said he'd arrange for it to be published posthumously, even incomplete, if not.

txwhitedove

(4,198 posts)
4. I'm in. Found a published edition at my library. Caro wrote "Means of Ascent", one of my favorite books.
Sun Aug 3, 2025, 12:21 PM
Aug 3
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Non-Fiction»There's a petition to get...