Robert Caro
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and journalist Robert Caro is widely considered one of the greatest non-fiction authors of the 20th century. Born on October 30, 1935, Robert Caro has made a name for himself not only with his award-winning books but also with his impressive career achievements. Caro is best known for his biographies of powerful individuals and organizations, including acclaimed works such as The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, Master of the Senate: Lyndon Johnson and The Years of Lyndon B Johnson, and Working: People Talk About What They do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do.
Caro began his career as a newspaper reporter and then authored articles for New York magazine. In 1969, Caro embarked on a career as a biographer when he began researching Robert Moses, a powerful urban planner in New York. His resulting book, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, earned him his first Pulitzer Prize. The book was lauded for its attention to detail and for being able to explain an incredibly complex organization and individual with clarity.
It was also in 1969 that Caro began researching Lyndon Johnson, and his biographical series on the president has since earned him multiple awards. He has released three books on Johnson: The Path to Power, Means of Ascent, and Master of the Senate. His fourth book, The Years of Lyndon B Johnson: The Passage of Power, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 2012.
Not only is Caro an award-winning author, but he is also respected for his meticulous research. His books are extensively researched and interview-driven, often taking years to complete. Caro himself is known for interviewing hundreds of sources in order to produce accurate and thorough information for his books. He also does his own research and verification of his sources, and often spends time in primary archives researching sources or visiting with living sources.
In addition to his biographical works, Caro also wrote The Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. Published in 1974, the book contains the results of interviews conducted by Caro with 96 different people from different walks of life. Caro asked his subjects how their job affected their lives and beliefs and what value they derived from their career. The book was lauded by literary critics for its frank and candid portrayals of work.
Overall, Robert Caro is a highly acclaimed and respected non-fiction author. His books are praised for their accuracy, attention to detail, and vivid portrayal of people and organizations. His unique storytelling style has earned him many awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes and countless other honors. Caro's non-fiction has revolutionized the way biographies and other non-fiction works are written, and for that reason, he will continue to be remembered and respected for his tremendous accomplishments.