Person
Every book Kenneth T. Jackson recommended on podcasts
Kenneth T. Jackson is an American historian and educator best known for his scholarship on urban history, New York City, and the American suburban landscape. Appearing on the Dwarkesh Podcast, Jackson discussed Robert A. Caro's monumental biography The Power Broker, sharing high praise for its extensive investigative depth and the stunned reactions it produces regarding the immense scope of Robert Moses's achievements. Jackson stated that he learned more from Caro's book than from any other volume he ever read and credited Caro with making Moses famous, while also praising the author's extraordinary dedication in interviewing figures from Moses's early life. At the same time, Jackson offered several critiques of the work, noting that he found the book flawed because Caro relied too heavily on Moses's own documents and consequently adopted a narrow perspective. Furthermore, Jackson disagreed with Caro's arguments concerning the decline of public transit in New York, contending instead that public transit survived unusually well in the city and that highways were indeed necessary.
Books recommended by Kenneth T. Jackson
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The Power Broker
The Power Broker by Robert A.
Recommended“I think The Power Broker was the best book I ever read and in broad strokes, it's correct. Robert Moses had more power than any urban figure in American history.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York? | Dwarkesh Podcast | 2022-11-08 | 14 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“In fact, when The Power Broker received an award, the Francis Parkman Prize from the Society of American Historians, it turned out we lived near each other in the Bronx. And I drove him home and we became friends and social friends.”