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The Path to Power

The Years of Lyndon Johnson

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The Path to Power

By: Robert A. Caro
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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About this listen

This is the story of the rise to national power of a desperately poor young man from the Texas Hill Country. The Path to Power reveals in extraordinary detail the genesis of the almost superhuman drive, energy, and ambition that set LBJ apart. It follows him from the Hill Country to New Deal Washington, from his boyhood through the years of the Depression to his debut as Congressman, his heartbreaking defeat in his first race for the Senate, and his attainment, nonetheless, at age 31, of the national power for which he hungered.

In this book, we are brought as close as we have ever been to a true perception of political genius and the American political process. Means of Ascent, Book Two of The Years of Lyndon Johnson, was a number-one national best seller and, like The Path to Power, received the National Book Critics Circle Award.

©1981, 1982 Robert A. Caro, Inc. (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Americas Historical Political Science Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State United States World Thought-Provoking Suspenseful

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All stars
Most relevant  
Well-read. Evocative and granular study of the early part of Lyndon Johnson’s life. A hard figure to pin down, but Robert Caro does an excellent job.

Masterful

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Very good insight of the pathway taken by LBJ. Very we’ll researched and read very well. I enjoyed it and will listen to more.

American politics how to win

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Entertaining, convincing, through,…The best ever biography of US president, or be more precise, an era!!

Master piece!

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The author is clearly embarking on a previously unheard of exploration of LBJ but the last half hour presents a complete about turn on LBJ's thinking but suggests it was a process with scant evidence. I will listen to all the volumes but am concerned with such judgement

In depth but slightly contradictory

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if you enjoy political history this is for you!
I particularly loved the narrator, who encapsulated the southern U.S. accent necessary for its historical context!
On now to volume 2.

Forensic

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One of the best books I have ever read. The narrator is superb. A journey through the American century.

Epic

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I was drawn to this book because I’d heard about Caro’s legendary biographic skills and I was not disappointed.
Having known next to nothing about LBJ before reading, I now feel I understand the man, the path to presidency, and America at the time a lot better.
Whilst the book is long, I found it to be a real page-turner because Caro has an amazing ability to make his books read almost like a fiction. Perhaps because of the extent of the research that goes into it that you’re able to get a good sense of the people and places involved.
Narration also good quality.

Brilliantly written account of an interesting life by a master biographer

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I had resisted reading a biography of Lyndon Johnston partly because I instinctively disliked him, my knowledge of him having come mainly from books about JFK. When the two are
compared, Johnston always seemed the lesser man, a large, loud, burly Texan who resented JFK's presidency and schemed against him. Having read so many excellent and positive reviews of Robert A Caro, and being interested in the mid 20th century setting, I decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did. I can't honestly say I now like Johnston, but the character who emerges from Caro's flowing narrative and Grover Gardner's impeccable and utterly listenable to narration is so complex, compelling and interesting that I cannot wait to start the next volume. Johnston may not have been likeable, but there is no doubt that he was clever, ambitious, manipulative and so phenomenally capable that he drove himself to heights no one could ever have imagined.

Compelling story of a complex man

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In order to make audiobooks a regular part of ordinary lives Audible has to vigorously cultivate the best narrators there are.

This narrator is one of the best.

I would love to listen to dozens of books narrated by this great person who is a precious asset for the audiobook business.

I salute you sir!

Best Narrator

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Such story telling is one of the true gifts of life. Thank you for the great effort that was put into making this book come alive.

Outstanding

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