Labor's Story in the United States

By: Philip Nicholson

Narrated by: Brian E. Smith

In this, the first broad historical overview of labor in the United States in 20 years, Philip Nicholson examines anew the questions, the villains, the heroes, and the issues of work in America. Unlike recent books that have covered labor in the 20th century, Labor's Story in the United States looks at the broad landscape of labor since before the Revolution. In clear, unpretentious language, Philip Yale Nicholson considers American labor history from the perspective of institutions and people: the rise of unions, the struggles over slavery, wages, and child labor, public and private responses to union organizing. Throughout, the audiobook focuses on the integral relationship between the strength of labor and the growth of democracy, painting a vivid picture of the strength of labor movements and how they helped make the United States what it is today. Labor's Story in the United States will become an indispensable source for scholars and students. Author note: Philip Yale Nicholson is Professor of History at Nassau Community College and Adjunct Professor at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Long Island Extension. He is the author of Who Do We Think We Are? Race and Nation in the Modern World.

©2004 Temple University (P)2014 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“A monumental work that prods us to consider the fate of labor and democracy." ( Labor Studies Journal)


"This is a wonderfully comprehensive narrative of American labor, full of insight and shrewd judgments." (Nelson Lichtenstein, University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of State of the Union: A Century of American Labor)

“Fill[s] a void in labor history by presenting the breadth of its struggles in one highly readable volume." ( Science & Society)

labor history is our history

I would have to listen to this many times to absorb it all. This book alone should be college level course. I hope it gets an update for the 2020s.

Essential reading.

So much of this history gets glossed over. Every worker needs to listen to this.

Discouraging

Sadly in 2004, 13 years ago, the author predicted our current political tragedy and perpetual decline.

excellent

this is the book I wish I had read 10 years ago. one of the best audio books in audible. and I am a professional labor historian!

great overview

Was looking for good history covering AFL, IWW, and teamsters. This did that. History most leave out. depressing thesis.