Today's episode features #1 Robert Caro superfan, Conan O'Brien.
The Power Broker by Robert Caro is a biography of Robert Moses, who is said to have built more structures and moved more earth than anyone in human history. And he did it without ever holding elected office. Outside of New York City, Robert Moses wasn't exceptionally well known. Inside of New York, he was mostly accepted by the media as simply the man who built all those nice parks. But The Power Broker, which is subtitled Robert Moses and The Fall of New York, changed all that. It is a tour de force of journalism, history, and biography. Roman also argues it's really fun to read and is strongly in contention for the best book ever written.
But there is something of a catch, which can hang readers up: the book is a daunting 1200 pages long. As influential and amazing as this bestseller is, many people own an unopened copy gathering dust on their bookshelf. But that is a crime because this book needs to be read or at least discussed at length on a podcast.
Roman Mars and Elliott Kalan (Flop House, Daily Show) are starting The Power Broker book club that will run through all of 2024 as bonus episodes and in this introductory episode, Conan O'Brien joins us to talk all things Robert Caro.
Breaking Down The Power Broker
581- It's Howdy Doody Time!
579 BONUS- Towers of Silence: Vulture Conservation
580- Mr Yuk
579- Towers of Silence
The Power Broker: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
578- Anything's Pastable: Eat Sauté Love
577- The Society of Ambiance Makers and Elegant Persons
576- Chambre de Bonne
Roman Mars Describes Athens GA As It Is
575- Autism Pleasantville
574- The Monster Under the Sink
The Power Broker #03: David Sims
573- Toyetic
572- WARNING: This Podcast Contains Chemicals Known to the State of California to Cause Cancer or Other Reproductive Harm
Roman Mars Describes Santa Fe As It Is
438- The Real Book [rebroadcast]
Significant Others: A Sneak Peek at the Woman Behind Benedict Arnold’s Betrayal
571- You Are What You Watch
The Power Broker #02: Jamelle Bouie
570- The White Castle System of Eating Houses
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