Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing

Working is Robert A. Caro's memoir about his research and writing process across his career as a biographer. The book details his methods for investigating and documenting the lives of Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson. Caro shares his techniques for conducting thorough interviews, exploring archives, and understanding the physical spaces that shaped his subjects' lives. His account includes moving to the Texas Hill Country, learning Spanish at age 60, and spending years in presidential libraries. The book reveals the personal costs and practical challenges of long-form biographical research. Caro describes his financial struggles, the support of his wife Ina, and his determination to uncover hidden aspects of power in American politics. Through this examination of his craft, Caro demonstrates how deep research and patient observation can transform biographical writing into a tool for understanding institutional power. His methods raise questions about what it truly takes to tell the full story of a life.

Readers describe Working as a glimpse into Caro's meticulous research process and dedication to uncovering truth through exhaustive investigation. Many cite his descriptions of moving to the Texas Hill Country and interviewing hundreds of sources to understand LBJ's background. Readers appreciated: - Detailed explanations of his interview techniques - Stories about discovering key documents and sources - Insights into his writing and revision process - Clear guidance for aspiring journalists/biographers Common criticisms: - Too short at 200+ pages - Contains previously published material - Leaves many questions unanswered - Some repetition between chapters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,300+ ratings) "Like a masterclass in investigative journalism" appears in multiple reviews. Several readers noted wanting more content, with one Amazon reviewer stating "It feels more like an appetizer than a full meal." Readers frequently mention dog-earing pages with useful research tips and interview strategies.

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🖋️ Robert Caro spent seven years working as an investigative reporter for Newsday before writing his first book, living on savings and a Carnegie Fellowship. 📚 To better understand Lyndon Johnson's childhood environment, Caro and his wife Ina moved to the Texas Hill Country for three years, immersing themselves in the local community. ⏱️ Caro's research process is so meticulous that it takes him approximately 10 years to complete each volume of his Lyndon Johnson biography series. 📝 The author still writes his first drafts by hand on legal pads and uses a Smith Corona Electra 210 typewriter for subsequent drafts, refusing to switch to computers. 🗃️ When researching "The Power Broker," Caro examined over one million documents and conducted 522 interviews over seven years before writing a single word of the manuscript.