Rating: 
Summary: A must read for understanding LBJ
Review: I am one of those who felt the second book was better written than the first. At times it seemed that Caro was doing a hatchet job on LBJ, but for the most part, he was telling the unsavory truth of Texas electoral politics. But let's not forget that the same pressure political maneuvering showcased during that election were the same skills that he mastered to become, most likely, the most influential and powerful Senate majority leader. I am anticipating the third book in the series(should be coming out soon), "Master of the Senate."
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly written, but....
Review: ...and this is a big "but." Caro verges on the hatchet job in volume two. He is a brilliant writer and his research methods are precise and methodical. But his take on LBJ here is overly negative, he always sees the worst case scenario and it winds up being hard to swallow, even if you detest Lyndon Johnson. He damns Johnson for stealing elections, when anyone else worth their salt in Texas in the 30's and 40's did the same thing. John Connelly ultimately refused further interviews with Caro because he felt this book was too brutally negative and I concur. So why the five stars?Because Caro is such an outstanding writer, he turns history into literature. His way with words is leagues ahead of other historical biographers, he writes with the flair of a novelist but he backs up his words with years of dilligent research. What other biographer pulls up stakes and lives for *five years* in the Texas hill country in order to better understand his subject? This first volume stands at the pinnacle of the biographical art, the second volume is slightly less convincing and a great deal more negative. Many have criticized Caro (Lady Bird and Connelly most vociferously) for being overly critical of Johnson. I share this concern and feel he sometimes bends over backwards to "stick it to" Johnson. Caro has said repeatedly that he will deal with LBJ's Presidency with a more charitible outlook and this is to be hoped. I am an unabashed fan of Lyndon Johnson and this will stand as the definitive biography of him for many years. Though it's caustic and critical, it's so beautifully written you can read it again and again. A masterpiece of biography and I can't wait for the third volume. Hopefully, that will be more forgiving of LBJ.
Rating: 
Summary: A whole book about one state-wide election?
Review: Yes, and it was almost as compelling as Vol. 1, Path to Power, which was breathtaking in its coverage of LBJ's Texas Hill Country and his first 35 years. I read Vol 1 in 1992 and could not put it down. Breathless when I got to the last page, I thought it better to read something else for a while. (Go figure.) It took eight years to get back to Vol 2. The tale of the 1948 election is dark and depressing--are U.S. elections still so corrupt?--and leaves one wondering from where does LBJ pull the intelligence and charm he needed to accomplish what he did during his presidency. I trust Robert Caro will have strong opinions on that in his next volume.
Rating:
Summary: A very informative book
Review: This is a book that you could teach a history lesson with. This tells the story of Lyndon Johnson's 1948 election victory. This book also gives a good upfront profile of George Parr who was in his day a giant powerbroker. Many Texas elected officials had rode to victory because of the Parr machine in Duval County. He was called the "Boss of Bosses" in Texas. Out of this election would come a future Majority Leader as well as a President of the Unites States. A very good book.
Rating: 
Summary: brilliant writing, but intellectually dishonest
Review: Caro is a terrific and passionate writer, but his passion carries him away-- and away from the truth. For dramatic effect he makes up some things (for example describing one confrontation as if it occurred at the OK Corral with men ready to go for their guns when it actually occurred with no guns on a cement sidewalk beside a paved street and men wearing coats and ties). Far more important, Caro apparently can see only good and evil, black and white, without shades of gray. To him LBJ is pure evil. His opponent Coke Stevenson is pure good. Wrong. Like LBJ, Coke's people stole votes (although they may not have been as good at it as LBJ's people were). Unlike LBJ, Stevenson had an established record opposing free speech at the University of Texas, supporting McCarthy-like tactics in a Texas Red Scare, embracing racism (not just by today's standards but even compared to some other southern politicians, including LBJ). For that matter the Klan supported Stevenson. But Caro can't seem to see any flaws in Stevenson, and mentions literally not a word about any of this. He can't see that there was a reason why every progressive or New Dealer in Texas supported LBJ, and it wasn't because LBJ bought all of them off. As wonderful and compelling a writer as Caro is-- and he's probably the best pure writer of history I know-- it is tragic that he is so untrustworthy as a historian.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping intensity of the best detective novel
Review: Robert Caro portrays Johnson as a compulsive liar with a need to prevaricate and steal that could make a politician cringe. I believe that the domestic program of Lyndon Johnson, civil rights legislation in particular, makes him one of the great US Presidents - even after reading this book. Given the disparity in these views of Johnson, it is remarkable that I found "Ascent to Power" compelling reading. Caro's book is extensively researched and written with a gripping intensity worthy of the best detective novel. His work gave me an insight that went beyond politics to that of human nature, the drive to power and impact that one individual could have on the course of the 20th century. My greatest regret - Volume 3 in this biography is years behind schedule. Robert, stop the foolin' around and finish that book!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and Engrossing
Review: Robert Caro has done it again! Having read Volume 1 some years ago, I finally got around to Volume 2 this summer. And, I am now eagerly awaiting Volume 3. Buy this book, and you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding...
Review: I love this series. I perused this site to see if anyone knew when the third volume would be out. No one did, so I e-mailed Randon House. Their response: "Robert A. Caro is hard at work on the last part of Volume Three of The Years of Lyndon Johnson, in which he shows how Johnson mastered the United States Senate as no one else has before or since. You know the amount of research Caro does, how he leaves no stone or paper unturned in his insistence on getting every fact and detail absolutely correct in his life of LBJ and his history of America in the 20th century. And you know what a great writer he is. Such research and writing take time, and we have not as yet set a publication date."
Rating:
Summary: Robert Caro is top notch!
Review: I first became a fan of Caro's after reading his Award Winning book on Robert Moses titled "The Power Broker". I own both of his books on Johnson and recommend them highly. Robert Caro is the greatest investigative reporter of all time. I have been waiting patiently these many years for Johnson part 3.
Rating:
Summary: The most engrossing political biography I have ever read
Review: Growing up in the sixties , Lyndon Johnson at that time meant for me Vietnam and despair.Coming upon Robert Caros first two volumes about the man had me enthralled from the first chapter.I still havent made up my mind on the morality of the Great Manipulater.I have put off re-reading them until the third volume appears,so that I can begin at the beginning and read through uninterrupted to the very end.It has been too long a wait already.
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