U.S. Labor in the 20th Century: Studies in Working-Class Struggles and Insurgency (Revolutionary Series)

Rating:
Summary: Vaguely Intertesting book, horrible editing
Review: I am a historian and find this topic to be extremly fascinating and important in US history. However, this book came up EXTREMELY short. The topic was poorly covered and the book was an extremly boreing read, even for a nonfiction history study. Also John Hinshaws editing left a lot to be desired. This could be one of the worst jobs of editing I have seen in my 40 years as a professor of history.

Rating:
Summary: Vaguely Intertesting book, horrible editing
Review: I am a historian and find this topic to be extremly fascinating and important in US history. However, this book came up EXTREMELY short. The topic was poorly covered and the book was an extremly boreing read, even for a nonfiction history study. Also John Hinshaws editing left a lot to be desired. This could be one of the worst jobs of editing I have seen in my 40 years as a professor of history.

Rating:
Summary: What in the world?
Review: I have always had a profound interest in the history of American labor and particularly, the struggles that have taken place over time in labor. However, this book did absolutely nothing to add to my knowledge on the subject or even inspire me to read more about the themes within the book itself. I was extremely disappointed with the editor and his lack of understanding and attention to true detail. Perhaps the better title of this book would be, "Myths and Legends of U.S. Labor in the 20th Century." This is certainly not a history text of any kind. If I wanted to read radical fiction, I could have read a "Star Trek" book or something like that.

Rating:
Summary: What in the world?
Review: I have always had a profound interest in the history of American labor and particularly, the struggles that have taken place over time in labor. However, this book did absolutely nothing to add to my knowledge on the subject or even inspire me to read more about the themes within the book itself. I was extremely disappointed with the editor and his lack of understanding and attention to true detail. Perhaps the better title of this book would be, "Myths and Legends of U.S. Labor in the 20th Century." This is certainly not a history text of any kind. If I wanted to read radical fiction, I could have read a "Star Trek" book or something like that.

Rating:
Summary: Brief explanation and Table of Contents
Review: I'm one of the editors, so of course, this is a great book. It's probably most useful for historians, labor educators, and those interested in US labor radicalism. The book has some classic articles by radical scholars and activists (Harry Braverman, James Matles of the UE), combined with some recent scholarly work by radical historians and activists (Joe Trotter, General Baker). I've included the table of contents for you to examine. JH

U.S. Labor in the Twentieth Century: Studies in Working-Class Fragmentation and Insurgency

John Hinshaw and Paul Le Blanc

Part One: Overviews: The Working Class Still Matters

1-2. Overview.

3-16. Paul Le Blanc and John Hinshaw, "Introduction: Why The Working Class Still Matters."

18-42. Harry Braverman, "The Making of the American Working Class."

43-78. Sherry Linkon, Bill Mullen, John Russo, Susan Russo, Linda Strom "Working-Class Studies: Where It's Been Lately and Where It's Going."

Part Two: Diversity, Insurgency and Fragmentation

79-80. Overview.

81-92. Dan Georgakas, "Ethnic Organizing: A Double-Edged Sword."

93-105. David Riehle, "The Appeal to Reason and the Mass Socialist Movement Before World War I."

106-119 David Demarest, "Representations of Women in Narratives About the Great Strike of 1919."

120-132. Joe W. Trotter, "Reflections on the Great Migration to Western Pennsylvania."

133-168. Karen Olson, "The Gendered Social World of Steelmaking: A Case Study of Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point Plant."

Part Three: The Opportunities of Labor Radicalism

164-165. Overview.

166-209. Paul Le Blanc, "Revolutionary Vanguards in the United States in the 1930s."

210-236. An interview with Genora Johnson Dollinger by Kathleen O'Nan, "The Role of Women, and of Radicals, in the First Sit-Down Strikes."

237-277. Robert Korstad and Nelson Lichtenstein, "Opportunities Found and Lost: Labor, Radicals, and the Early Civil Rights Movement."

278-313. Manning Marable, "A. Philip Randolph and the Foundations of Black Socialism."

Part Four: Affluence, Possibilities and Problems

314-315. Overview. 316-331. Lizabeth Cohen, "Working-Class Studies/Working-Class Lives: A Historian's Perspective."

332-354. Mark McColloch, "Modest But Adequate: Standard of Living for Mon Valley Steelworkers in the Union Era."

355-397. Ed Mann, "We Are the Union."

398-439. John Hinshaw, "Black Workers' Struggles for Jobs and Civil Rights in Twentieth-Century Pittsburgh"

Part Five: Applying the Lessons of the Past

440-441. Overview.

442-455. Elaine Bernard, "Why Unions Matter."

456-480. Irwin Marcus, "A Century of Struggle in Homestead: Working-Class Responses to Corporate Power."

481-494. James. J. Matles, "The Role of Labor Today: Reflections on the Past Through Light on the Road Ahead."

495-515. Peter Rachleff, "Seeds of a Labor Insurgency" "1996: Change and Continuity."

516-526. General Baker, "The Struggle for Survival."

527-531. Biographies of Contributors

Rating:
Summary: Brief explanation and Table of Contents
Review: I'm one of the editors, so of course, this is a great book. It's probably most useful for historians, labor educators, and those interested in US labor radicalism. The book has some classic articles by radical scholars and activists (Harry Braverman, James Matles of the UE), combined with some recent scholarly work by radical historians and activists (Joe Trotter, General Baker). I've included the table of contents for you to examine. JH

U.S. Labor in the Twentieth Century: Studies in Working-Class Fragmentation and Insurgency

John Hinshaw and Paul Le Blanc

Part One: Overviews: The Working Class Still Matters

1-2.Overview.

3-16.Paul Le Blanc and John Hinshaw, "Introduction: Why The Working Class Still Matters."

18-42.Harry Braverman, "The Making of the American Working Class."

43-78.Sherry Linkon, Bill Mullen, John Russo, Susan Russo, Linda Strom "Working-Class Studies: Where It's Been Lately and Where It's Going."

Part Two: Diversity, Insurgency and Fragmentation

79-80.Overview.

81-92.Dan Georgakas, "Ethnic Organizing: A Double-Edged Sword."

93-105.David Riehle, "The Appeal to Reason and the Mass Socialist Movement Before World War I."

106-119David Demarest, "Representations of Women in Narratives About the Great Strike of 1919."

120-132.Joe W. Trotter, "Reflections on the Great Migration to Western Pennsylvania."

133-168.Karen Olson, "The Gendered Social World of Steelmaking: A Case Study of Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point Plant."

Part Three: The Opportunities of Labor Radicalism

164-165. Overview.

166-209.Paul Le Blanc, "Revolutionary Vanguards in the United States in the 1930s."

210-236.An interview with Genora Johnson Dollinger by Kathleen O'Nan, "The Role of Women, and of Radicals, in the First Sit-Down Strikes."

237-277.Robert Korstad and Nelson Lichtenstein, "Opportunities Found and Lost: Labor, Radicals, and the Early Civil Rights Movement."

278-313.Manning Marable, "A. Philip Randolph and the Foundations of Black Socialism."

Part Four: Affluence, Possibilities and Problems

314-315.Overview. 316-331.Lizabeth Cohen, "Working-Class Studies/Working-Class Lives: A Historian's Perspective."

332-354.Mark McColloch, "Modest But Adequate: Standard of Living for Mon Valley Steelworkers in the Union Era."

355-397.Ed Mann, "We Are the Union."

398-439.John Hinshaw, "Black Workers' Struggles for Jobs and Civil Rights in Twentieth-Century Pittsburgh"

Part Five: Applying the Lessons of the Past

440-441.Overview.

442-455.Elaine Bernard, "Why Unions Matter."

456-480.Irwin Marcus, "A Century of Struggle in Homestead: Working-Class Responses to Corporate Power."

481-494.James. J. Matles, "The Role of Labor Today: Reflections on the Past Through Light on the Road Ahead."

495-515.Peter Rachleff, "Seeds of a Labor Insurgency" "1996: Change and Continuity."

516-526.General Baker, "The Struggle for Survival."

527-531.Biographies of Contributors