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Dwarkesh PodcastNov 8, 2022

Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York? on Dwarkesh Podcast.

Guest

Kenneth T. Jackson

Books mentioned

Robert Moses and the Modern City Robert Moses and the Fall of New York Broad Strokes+1 more

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Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York? mentions Robert Moses and the Modern City, Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, Broad Strokes, and The Power Broker by Robert Caro with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Robert Moses and the Modern City Robert Moses and the Fall of New York Broad Strokes The Power Broker

3 books from this episode

Robert Moses and the Modern City

I think it was the best book I ever read

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

my argument and the subtitle of the 2007 book or that article is Robert Moses and the Raz of New York arguing that had Robert Moses not lived not don…

Broad Strokes

I think it was the best book I ever read in Broad Strokes it's correct Robert Moses had more power than any Urban figure in American history he built…

Guest: Kenneth T. Jackson

Episode summary

I had a fascinating discussion about Robert Moses and The Power Broker with Professor Kenneth T. Jackson . He's the pre-eminent historian on NYC and author of Robert Moses and The Modern City: The Transformation of New York . He answers: * Why are we so much worse at building things today? * Would NYC be like Detroit without the master builder? * Does it take a tyrant to stop NIMBY? Watch on YouTube . Listen on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or any other podcast platform. Read the full transcript here . Follow me on Twitter for updates on future episodes. Timestamps (0:00:00) Preview + Intro (0:11:13) How Moses Gained Power (0:18:22) Moses Saved NYC? (0:27:31) Moses the Startup Founder? (0:32:34) The Case Against Moses Highways (0:50:30) NIMBYism (1:02:44) Is Progress Cyclical (1:11:13) Friendship with Caro (1:19:50) Moses the Longtermist? Get full access to Dwarkesh Podcast at www.dwarkesh.com/subscribe

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Robert Moses and the Modern City

The host cites Robert Moses and the Modern City as the best book they've read and uses it to convey how central Moses…

Card

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

The host mentions the book to reconsider Robert Moses's role in building large-scale public works and to argue that h…

Card

Broad Strokes

The host mentions Broad Strokes while praising Robert Moses' impact on New York's infrastructure and arguing that wit…

Card

The Power Broker

Robert Caro

The host mentions The Power Broker while discussing Robert Moses's vast influence on New York City and his many publi…

Card

Robert Moses and the Modern City: The Transformation of New York

Kenneth T. Jackson (editor)

The host briefly identifies Kenneth T. Jackson as the author and editor of the book to establish his authority on the…

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What is Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York? about?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York? on Dwarkesh Podcast.

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What are the main takeaways from Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York??

These are the strongest takeaways surfaced by the transcript, summary copy, and linked mentions for Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York?.

The conversation centers on Robert Moses influence.
A second recurring theme is public works history.
Referenced books include Robert Moses and the Modern City and Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.
The strongest audience signal points to Listeners interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of powerful city-makers and Readers interested in urban history, public works, and policy-makers rethinking infrastructure and city decline.

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Which books are mentioned in Kenneth T. Jackson - Robert Moses, Hero of New York??

Robert Moses and the Modern City, Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, and Broad Strokes are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Top triggers

Robert Moses influence(2)public works history(1)Robert Moses biography(1)Robert Moses legacy(1)

Mention sentiment

Highly Recommended(2)Critical Analysis(1)Deep Dive(1)Passing Reference(1)

Audience signals

Listeners interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of powerful city-makersReaders interested in urban history, public works, and policy-makers rethinking infrastructure and city declineReaders interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of influential plannersListeners interested in urban history, New York City infrastructure, and biographies of powerful public figuresListeners interested in urban history and New York City studies

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer quote context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Robert Moses and the Modern City

Best for Listeners interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of powerful city-makersOften cited around Robert Moses influence

“Host recommends listeners check out 'your book Robert Moses and the modern city the transformation of New York' and mentions an essay in 'The Rise of New York City'.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: Robert Moses influence

For: Listeners interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of powerful city-makers

Key quote: “I think it was the best book I ever read”

The host cites Robert Moses and the Modern City as the best book they've read and uses it to convey how central Moses was to shaping New York City. They introduce Professor Kenneth T. Jackson, the book's author, to discuss Moses's vast power and the many roads, bridges, and parks he built.

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Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Best for Readers interested in urban history, public works, and policy-makers rethinking infrastructure and city declineOften cited around public works history

“Presented as the subtitle of The Power Broker ("The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York") and referenced when describing the book's focus.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: public works history

For: Readers interested in urban history, public works, and policy-makers rethinking infrastructure and city decline

Key quote: “my argument and the subtitle of the 2007 book or that article is Robert Moses and the Raz of New York arguing that had Robert Moses not lived not done what he did New York would have followed the trail of maybe Detroit followed the trail of maybe Detroit”

The host mentions the book to reconsider Robert Moses's role in building large-scale public works and to argue that his efforts may have prevented New York from following the decline of other Rust Belt cities. They cite the 2007 book as arguing that without Moses's projects New York might have experienced the same decay as Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and others, and use it to discuss how perceptions of the 1970s crisis might be reassessed.

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Broad Strokes

Best for Readers interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of influential plannersOften cited around Robert Moses legacy

“Speaker says "I think it was the best book I ever read in Broad Strokes it's correct" referring to Robert Moses.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: Robert Moses legacy

For: Readers interested in urban history, New York City development, and biographies of influential planners

Key quote: “I think it was the best book I ever read in Broad Strokes it's correct Robert Moses had more power than any Urban figure in American history he built incredible monuments he was ruthless and arrogant and honest”

The host mentions Broad Strokes while praising Robert Moses' impact on New York's infrastructure and arguing that without him the city might have declined like Detroit. They call Broad Strokes the best book they've read and use it to introduce a conversation with Professor Kenneth T. Jackson about Moses' life and legacy.

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Find on Amazon

The Power Broker

Robert Caro

Best for Listeners interested in urban history, New York City infrastructure, and biographies of powerful public figuresOften cited around Robert Moses influence

“Mentioned as "the popular biography of him by Robert Caro the power broker" referring to Robert Moses.”

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis

Trigger: Robert Moses influence

For: Listeners interested in urban history, New York City infrastructure, and biographies of powerful public figures

Key quote: “very Carroll who wrote a really great very Carroll who wrote a really great very Carroll who wrote a really great book I think the book was flawed”

The host mentions The Power Broker while discussing Robert Moses's vast influence on New York City and his many public works. They acknowledge Robert Caro's biography as a major source but also note that the book has flaws.

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Robert Moses and the Modern City: The Transformation of New York

Kenneth T. Jackson (editor)

Best for Listeners interested in urban history and New York City studiesOften cited around Robert Moses biography

“Professor Jackson is the author and editor of Robert Moses and the modern city the transformation of New York.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: Robert Moses biography

For: Listeners interested in urban history and New York City studies

Key quote: “Professor Jackson is the author and editor of Robert Moses and the modern city the transformation of New York.”

The host briefly identifies Kenneth T. Jackson as the author and editor of the book to establish his authority on the subject. The mention serves to credit Jackson's role rather than evaluate the book's content or arguments.

Amazon search results · affiliate link

Find on Amazon

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Robert Moses and the Modern City

Dwarkesh Podcast · 1:31:50

I think it was the best book I ever read

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Dwarkesh Podcast · 7:21

my argument and the subtitle of the 2007 book or that article is Robert Moses and the Raz of New York arguing that had Robert Moses not lived not don…

Broad Strokes

Dwarkesh Podcast · 0:39

I think it was the best book I ever read in Broad Strokes it's correct Robert Moses had more power than any Urban figure in American history he built…

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