Part One: The Man Who Ruined New York

This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time. It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks. The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected. It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power. The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics.

In this book, David Fromkin reveals how and why the Allies drew lines on an empty map that remade the geography and politics of the Middle East. Focusing on the formative years of 1914 to 1922, Fromkin delivers a sweeping and magisterial account of this defining time, showing how the choices made during this period led to the conflicts and confusion that continue to this day. The book examines key decisions such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, and how these decisions have shaped the modern Middle East.