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Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #2)

Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #2) book cover
MO
Biography & Memoir History Non-Fiction

by Robert A. Caro

starstarstarstarstar_half
4.25 (12.6K ratings)
calendar_today 1990
description 592 pages

Means of Ascent by Robert A. Caro holds a highly rated rating of 4.25 out of 5, based on 12.6K reader ratings. First published in 1990. The book spans 592 pages.

About Means of Ascent

Robert A. Caro's life of Lyndon Johnson, which began with the greatly acclaimed The Path to Power, also winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, continues -- one of the richest, most intensive and most revealing examinations ever undertaken of an American President. In Means of Ascent the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer/historian, chronicler also of Robert Moses in The Power Broker, carries Johnson through his service in World War II and the foundation of his long-concealed fortune and the facts behind the myths he created about it. But the explosive heart of the book is Caro's revelation of the true story of the fiercely contested 1948 senatorial election, for forty years shrouded in rumor, which Johnson had to win or face certain political death, and which he did win -- by "the 87 votes that changed history." Caro makes us witness to a momentous turning point in American politics: the tragic last stand of the old politics versus the new -- the politics of issue versus the politics of image, mass manipulation, money and electronic dazzle.

Detail Value
Author Robert A. Caro
Published 1990
Pages 592
Genres Biography & Memoir, History, Non-Fiction
Average Rating 4.25 / 5.00
Total Ratings 12,582

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

4.3
starstarstarstarstar_half
12.6K ratings
With a rating of 4.25, Means of Ascent is rated near the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.99, it performs above expectations.

How It Compares

4.25
This Book
3.99
Biography & Memoir Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is Means of Ascent?

Means of Ascent is categorized as Biography & Memoir, History, Non-Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.

Is Means of Ascent worth reading?

Based on 12.6K reader ratings, Means of Ascent has an average score of 4.25 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."

How many pages is Means of Ascent?

Means of Ascent has 592 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.

Who wrote Means of Ascent?

Means of Ascent was written by Robert A. Caro. It was first published in 1990.

What is the ISBN for Means of Ascent?

The ISBN-13 for Means of Ascent is 9780679733710.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026