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4.59 AVERAGE
4.59 AVERAGE
Again, another masterpiece of Texas history. The '48 Senate election seems unreal, yet somehow it's escaped Texas history books or classes taught in the state. It's an incredible unearthing of Coke Stevenson's story. Its an amazing story for the rest of the world as well and, in combination with Path to Power, has drastically changed how I think about politics and power.
challenging
slow-paced
Coming off of Path to Power this was more often frustrating to trudge through. The great moments are really great! But those moments happen amidst sometimes verbatim repetition of passages from the first book. I think Gottlieb did a disservice letting Caro make this its own book. It could’ve easily been the end of the first book or even the opening of Master of the Senate.
And yet, as always with Caro, he ends on a gut punch too delicious not to love.
And yet, as always with Caro, he ends on a gut punch too delicious not to love.
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Wow the story of Texas's 1948 Senate campaign is truly BONKERS. I believe Caro meant to only write 4 books in this series -- it's now slated for 5 -- and I'm sure part of the reason it was extended was because the 1948 campaign could not be shoved into the beginning or end of another book. The characters and episodes in this book are as colorful as ever -- Coke Stevenson, the true Texas cowboy; Luis Salas the enforcer; the mythic Box 13; Ladybird Johnson coming into her own. Really, will someone please make a Box 13 movie? The only problem is there's a lot of intrigue but no heroes.
There's still much of the book that is naturally transitional, part of the LBJ story but not the most exciting. Caro writes with great drama, and the book ends with a teaser toward book 4, Master of the Senate.
There's still much of the book that is naturally transitional, part of the LBJ story but not the most exciting. Caro writes with great drama, and the book ends with a teaser toward book 4, Master of the Senate.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
The four stars is for the extensive research and well-documented revelations of the scurrilous shortcomings of this abnormally driven man, Lyndon Baines Johnson. The shaping of a narrative of shameless politics bringing down a near Jesus-like figure in Caro's retelling (until you get to the endnotes where you learn Coke Stevenson's politics and views could be despicable) was the real weakness for me and the nitty gritty details of legal motions and procedures gets tiresome, especially when you already know the outcome. I guess that's the inherent flaw of a thorough historian-- presenting all the research as required that gets in the way of the truth of a timeline.
Still, a singular achievement.
Still, a singular achievement.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Nobody does it better. Caro’s biographies and storytelling are second to none and he does not disappoint in the second volume of LBJ’s personal history. Means of Ascent starts with what is most likely the greatest introduction ever written and fully primes the reader. Caro is able to dive deep into people’s backgrounds and explain the nitty gritty details of political maneuverings with the flare of a Hollywood drama. The book focuses almost entirely on LBJ’s battle against Coke Stevenson for the US senate seat in Texas in 1948. We learn just how low LBJ will go (and it is low) to defeat his political opponents. While LBJ may not have invented the smear campaign, he seems to have perfected it in this race. A congressman with very little to show for his years in D.C. is able to steal the election from a former governor whose nickname was Mr. Texas. Despite Caro bending the story of Coke Stevenson to his narrative and glossing over Stevenson’s racist history, it’s hard to imagine a more compelling foe to LBJ. Stevenson’s biography within this LBJ biography was both transporting and beguiling. Like his races before, LBJ uses all the money and tactics at his disposal and again proves if you do everything that is possible you can earn (or cheat) your way to a victory.
I did enjoy this volume, but it took some time to get through (mainly due to how detailed Caro writes of specific campaigns... one feels as if the story will never progress). In any event, the deep dive into Coke Stevenson really set up the main storyline for this volume: the Texas US Senate election in 1948. Growing up learning about LBJ in the context of presidential history (as opposed to those who lived during his presidency), we learned about his manipulative behaviors in the White House. This volume brings up the fact that he entered the Upper Chamber under dubious, likely fraudulent means to begin with. It was new to me!