[sosull]

If anyone hasn't read Robert Caro's books about Lyndon Johnson, give them a try. They are a truly exceptional achievement in both storytelling and research. I had no concrete understanding of what the New Deal actually was until I read the (fourteenth chapter) of the first book. The stories about it are insane: judges being kidnapped, stripped and beaten by farmers etc. There is a whole book, Means of Ascent, that's devoted to this short period in LBJ's life – the Senate primary campaign that he ran against Coke Stevenson. The helicopter features heavily.

[alexslobodnik]

For those who are not aware Lyndon Johnson won by a mere 87 votes. Those votes were bought and paid for according to Caro.

That chapter alone is worth reading the entire book for.

[kranke155]

Caro’s book on writing is one of the most incredible pieces I’ve ever read on the subject.

I highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested in the art.