Embarking upon the reading of four long volumes about Lyndon Baines Johnson might not sound like a good idea, especially when you know the effort will only take you through the first seven weeks of his presidency, the rest of which will be treated in Caro’s final volume, still a work in progress. But you’ll be surprised to discover that the dimensions of the man—and his “years”—merit both the author’s prodigious labor and a reader’s attention. Each book in the sequence has its own story to tell, with many digressions that illuminate political moments and contemporary issues and personalities; all are constructed in digestible episodes crafted to allow readers to dip easily back into these big books after days, weeks, or even months away. Together, they relate, with unsurpassed fascination, what happens when the American dream becomes entangled with the American realities of class, race, money, business, and influence—and, every once in a while, breaks free.
We use cookies to recognize you when you return to this website so you do not have to log in again. By continuing to use this site, you are giving us your consent to do this. You can read more about our practices and your choices here.