The Passage of Power

The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. IV

Robert Caro

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The Passage of Power" by Robert Caro is a meticulously-researched and engaging historical masterpiece that captures the pivotal years of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential journey.

In this fourth volume of his acclaimed series, Caro eloquently explores the turbulent period from 1958 to 1964—delving deep into the intricacies of Johnson's political career and the colossal challenges he faced upon assuming the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Caro paints a vivid portrait of Johnson's transformation from an influential Senate majority leader into the leader of a grieving nation, burdened with the weight of continuing Kennedy's unfinished legacy. With precise attention to detail, Caro exposes the complex web of alliances, betrayals, and power struggles that characterized this period of American history.

Elevating the narrative with his clear prose and rich storytelling, Caro skillfully presents the backroom dealings and political maneuvering that allowed Johnson to pass landmark legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He delves into Johnson's skilled manipulation of power, as he deftly navigates through opposition and finds unprecedented ways to advance his policy agenda.

Caro does not shy away from examining Johnson's flaws and the toll that wielding power takes on both him and those around him. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Caro dismantles popular myths while providing a gripping account of Johnson's rise to power and the transformative years that followed.

"The Passage of Power" is a brilliant and illuminating examination of a crucial period in American history, bringing to life the complex political landscape and the enigmatic personality of Lyndon B. Johnson. Caro's authoritative writing makes this book an essential addition to the libraries of history enthusiasts and anyone seeking a deep understanding of power dynamics and the complexities of leadership.

Explore More Books

See All
Pride and Prejudice
The Origin of Wealth
101 Things I Learned in Engineering School
Syntax & Sage
Building the Intentional University
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
Hit Men
The Splendid and the Vile
Prof. Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System
Deep Work
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
The Black Swan
Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got
The Anatomy of the State
Andrew Carnegie
Good Economics For Hard Times
The Overview Effect
Faraday, Maxwell, and the Electromagnetic Field
Built from Scratch
Daemon
Should We Eat Meat?
The Price of Peace
The Big Score
The Black Jacobins
It's About Damn Time
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Seeing Serena
Be the Person You Want to Find
Every Shot Counts
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Our Mathematical Universe
Troublemakers
The Culture of Narcissism
The Better Angels of our Nature
The Global Macro Edge
Boyd
Layered Money
Swimming Across
The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo
Death Rattle
Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy
Vagabonding
Dune
The Upright Thinkers
The Writing Life
The God Proof
Return to the Little Kingdom
Stealing Fire
More Than You Know
Thirst
James Turrell
Who Moved My Cheese?
The Power of Full Engagement
The Sheltering Sky
The 10,000 Year Explosion
Tales of the Unexpected
How Buildings Learn
The Wisdom of Crowds
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter
The Value Investors
The Only Game In Town
Continental Reckoning
The Autobiography of Charles Darwin
Norwegian Wood
Six Not-So-Easy Pieces
Nudge
Energy
Greenlights
Money Changes Everything
Stuff Matters
In The Plex
Ficciones
Autobiography of a Yogi
Race and Culture
The Great Illusion
Interventions
The Checklist Manifesto
Orwell's Revenge
Uncaring
Decoded
One Up on Wall Street
The Art of Computer Programming
The Cult of LEGO
Breath From Salt
The Jack Vance Treasury
In-N-Out Burger
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
Slugfest
Lonesome Dove
Take On The Street
What If?
Zoning Rules!
The Heart of Yoga
Dreamland
The Trump Century
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Plan B 3.0
The Opium of the Intellectuals
Tent Life in Siberia
UFO Hunters