Labor Day Books

Whether you are a community development planner, in resource development, a child care provider, parent, or private-sector business, this is the bible of options available to employers in the work/life arena. For those jumping on the bandwagon to increase productivity, retention, and recruitment within their community or workforce, this is the book to get. For those enhancing the awareness to employers on the direct relationship that child care has on their bottom line.....this is the book. Filled with understandable, comprehensive information, this book is a must for any consultant, human resource manager, or anyone working within the child care arena. Folks, it's finally here...the message..."the reason that child care exisits, is because parents work." This book is for anyone who wants to affect productivity and profit margins in a positive manner.

Kevin Coyne proves that night is a place, one far different than day. Night uncovers a seperate world. In A Day in the Night of America, Kevin Coyne lets us live a night in the life of the people who keep America alive while most people sleep. From the police who roam the streets to those taking their final exam at Dunkin' Donuts University, you will be introduced to a very interesting group of people.

A great book. If you've read Not in Our backyards and are interested to learn how environmental issues are solved in UK, read this book. It takes you all the way thorough the legal process, tells you where the problems are (usually scientific evidence - proving the cause-consequence relationship) and what the costs are. Is the way thorugh the legal process really worth it? In this book most of the cases have been successful and that can give you a good impression, but the author is cautios and warns you that not always everything works out ok. A book that will surprise you and teach you a lot of new, interesting points, but also make you see the real difficult side of taking your case to court.

This is a wonderful former dissertation that became a good book, especially important now as we witness the ruin of the US auto industry, with the full complicity of its inmates. Notably, the last people to jump the sinking ship will be the UAW leadership, not the Ford or GM bosses. The UAW bosses need to preserve their pensions, while the Big Auto bosses know they are not in business to make cars, but money. How US auto came to its zombie like state now is, of course, rooted in its past, and Meyer does a fine job getting us in at the start. From Taylor, who sought to strip the mind of the worker on the job and to replace that mind with the mind of the boss, to the Christian benevolent societies that sought to Improve the Foreigners by destroying their culture---and the carrots and sticks that made that possible---all of that is here in the text. And the finger story is worth the price of admission alone.

A time that is poorly covered in writings on the North is covered excellently by Mr Anderson.A must for anyone seeking to understand the Politics of Northern Ireland and an insight into the problems the present process faces

A self-published tribute to the legendary 101 Ranch in Oklahoma, commemorating a celebration held over Labor Day Weekend in 1978 and 1979. Recounts the history and present (dismal) status of the ranch, which is seminal in the history of rodeo. The Ranch was among the first to employ women, Mexicans and Black Americans. Among the notables were Bill Pickett and George Hooker, who were Black cowboys; an all around cowgirl, Lucille Mulhall; Joe Borrero, a Mexican trick roper and a variety of Native Americans. It was once the biggest working rodeo ranch in America, covering 101,000 acres, spanning four counties including the Ponca Indian Reservation in Oklahoma.

No study of the Soviet Union could be complete without reading "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich", By Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Unlike Solzhenitsyn's later novels "The First Circle" or "The Gulag Archipelago" that explore the life of a zeck (political prisoners) in depth, "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" is a simple straight forward narrative of a single day in the life of a zeck. Solzhenitsyn captures the unchanging hopelessness and brutality of life in a gulag with both brevity and startling guileless narrative. Even the length of less than 200 pages is a transformation of the usual Russian novel.

Prior to publication of Solzhenitsyn's work in 1962 by Novy Mir (New Life) Magazine and its publication in the West being little was known about the details of the Stalinist Repression Prison Camp System. The very existence of the gulag system came as a surprise, but the size and brutality of these camps was a breathtaking revelation. Not all zecks were political prisoners most were confined for violation of Article 58; weakening of the power of workers' and peasants'... or undermining... the external security of the U.S.S.R., literally covering everything from littering to treason.

As additional reading I recommend "The Trial" by Kafka to get a unique if somewhat parallaxed view of Soviet Jurist Prudence. A narrative of Joseph K. who awakens one morning and, for reasons never revealed, is arrested and prosecuted for an unspecified crime, or "The First Circle" a narrative of the life of high-valued zecks working on an encrypted telephone system for Stalin's use.

Not a wasted word. Incredible story. Powerful beyond belief. The glowing reviews are right--a must read.

This book has been reviewed over and over again. I doubt I can add much that has not been mentioned. I read this book (the first time) in 1978. It is one of the few books that sticks in my mind like I read it yesterday.

First, it is short, only about 150-160 pages. For all its brevity it packs the impact of and 800 pager by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. I enjoyed this book more than the much longer "Cancer Ward".

Solzhenityn's descriptive and narrative power are in absolutely top form here. It captures perfectly, the futility, hopelessness, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit undergoing 10 years of unjust imprisonment. Chilling and descriptive in its captivating imagery. It is simply written by a master at the top of his game with unparalleled subject matter to work with. Considering that the story captures only one day, the density and power of the imagery are amazing.

There are so many little snippets that stick with you, bone chilling cold so frigid that cement must be heated or it freezes before it can be used,searching for soup with "fish eyes" in it because it fills you up better and is more nutritious,and of course the last sentence of the book has a chilling and desolate finality to it that I will probably remember until I am dead.

This book made me hate the Soviet Union enough to become a soldier.

Reading Alexandr Solzhenitsyn's book while traveling through the former Soviet Union recently was downright spooky. He had died just before I left, so I did him the honor of bringing his book along. You don't necessarily read it expecting a fun or enjoyable read. You read it because it was one of the first books that exposed yet one more terrible era the Russian people endured, Stalin's gulag prison camps.

Actually, I was a little let down when I read the introduction (Katherine Shonk) and learned that Khrushchev purposely had the book published in order to expose Stalin's crimes and vilify Stalin. I was hoping that it was a truly "underground" book that somehow managed to evade the censors....But, alas, it is still an important book in Russian history, and I am glad I did read it.

It's a quick and easy read. The other reviews provide the basics of the book, so I'll spare you the extra verbiage.

The recent press surrounding the death of Solzhenitsyn prompted me to seek out his written works, and decided to start with this, his first book. Drawn from his own time spent in Soviet Gulags, Solzhenitsyn paints a frightening picture of a single day in the life of a typical prisoner as he tries to avoid the wrath of both the guards and his fellow inmates from dawn to dusk.

Incidently, the events surrounding the publication of "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" are as eye-opening as the book itself. First published in 1962 with the express permission of then premiere Nikita Khrushchev, it was only two years later that the new regime took offense to the book, not only ceasing publication but prompting Solzhenitsyn's declaration as a "non-person" within the Soviet Union. Undaunted, Solzhenitsyn continued writing in secret, producing several other works (which I happen to be reading now!).

If you've any interest in Soviet history and literature, this seems to be a great place to start.

This culturally significant novel is a must for anyone interested in American studies, labor issues, oral history, etc.. The author, Studs Turkel is a prominent Chicago figure that has interview 9,000+ people about their jobs. This is well worth the read. Turkel interviews a variety of interesting people ranging from actors, flight attendants, CEO's, and even a call girl.

I was actually recommended this book by my advanced acting teacher as a senior in college. We had been talking about different places to find monologues for auditions other than plays. I had heard of the musical "Working" that had been inspired by this book, but had never looked into the literary reference. The second I opened this book, I was hooked.

Not only did I find a countless number of potential monologues (sometimes three or four within one interview) but it also completely opened my mind to the people around me I often look past. I never took the time to consider the woman at the grocery register, like B. Secoli. Reading this book was ultimately life changing. Of course, after time one sinks back into their own self-absorbed existence, but every now and then, when I need a little perspective, I return to Studs Terkel's "Working" and rediscover the rest of humanity.

I read Working in 1986, when I was 23, and chose my profession based on one of the interviews (I'm a piano tuner/repairman). I am so grateful to Mr. Terkel and his subjects; without them I may have floundered in life, but because of their inspiration, I found work which I have enjoyed and learned from for more than two decades.

This book changed my life. I read it when it was new, at a time when I was becoming incredibly discontent in my first real career position job. What struck me about the people in this book was that almost all of them are busy doing work they don't really care for, and which many of them downright hate. They feel trapped and are unhappy, but they stick at it because they have bills to pay. The people who in contrast were doing work that they *loved* had a magical time of it. They were also few and far between. After I read this I questioned why people choose to make themselves unhappy at work they hate, when they could (as we say these days but didn't, then) "follow their bliss" and find what gives them joy. I have never looked at work the same way since, and the insights I gained from this book gave me the courage to leave a bad situation in order to find a better path to fulfillment. This is an amazing work of oral history, and the love work/hate work issue is just as relevant today.

The book was in great condition, with one MAJOR catch: it had a Chicago Public Library bar code on it. I called the library, read them the bar code, and they asked me to please return it, as it had been taken without their permission. Amazon kindly sent me another book, and the stolen edition goes back to the library!

Joshua's Song by Joan Hiatt Harlow was a wonderful book! Joshua's Song was about a boy named Joshua and he had to drop out of the Boston Boys' Choir to get a job to help his family. He found a job as a news paper boy. He was hiding the idea that he was a news paper boy from his mother cause he thought she would be ashamed. Joshua's Song is a historical fiction book for 5 graders and up! I would highly recommend this book!
=)

Joshua's Song is another touching classic book by John Haitt Harlow.
Josh is having a very tough time. He becomes a newspaper boy. He later becomes a hero. What did he do?
This book was very touching. Josh is a brave kid with a big heart. He realizes what really matters in life.
Josh, of course, is my very favorite character. He seems to be the most miture of all the other newspaper boys. He was only doing the job for money needed by his poor family. NOT for his own needs. He cared for everybody but himself. Thats how he became a hero.
My favorite passage form the book, odly enough, is the last page. "Then holding up a newspaper, Joshua inhaled deeply-and sang out the day's headlines." It is just such a strong sentence.
I would say that this book is very touching if someone asked me. Josh does the hard things that many of us don't have the courage to do. He's put in the hardest of situations.
I have one question though. Is that really possible?
My strongest recomendation for the book; it was sooooooo touching.

I just want to say this is the best book I have ever read.

THIS BOOK WOULD BE GREAT FOR REVIEWS IN MAGAZINES OR ANY OTHER PLACE YOU CAN FIND A REVIEW. IF YOU LIKE ALOT OF DRAMA AND SOME ACTION, YOU WOULD LIKE THIS BOOK. jOSHUA AND HIS MOM ARE POOR AND HIS MOM TELLS HIM TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. THIS IS WHAT EVERY BOY DID TO HELP THEIR FAMILYS, DROP OUT OF SCHOOL.HE MET THIS KID NAMED CHARLESTON CHARLIE WHO SOLD PAPERS ON THE STREETS. CHARLIE GAVE HIM A CHANCE AND HE SOLD HIS FIRST PAPER. JOSHUA KNOWS HIS MOM WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO SELL PAPERS, SO HE DOSENT TELL.AND FROM THEIR ON THEIRS HEARTPOUNDING ACTION AND A WHOLE LOT OF DRAMA. BY: ALEX SHERRILL

Joshua's Song is a really good book to chek into. Josh is just a regular, rotten kid that tries to hep his family. Trying to find a job to keep his family alive, he runs into a few snobby kids. Now Josh is off around working for him. To find out more read Joshua's Song By:Joan Hiatt Harlow.

I was not even aware of the Hurricane of 1935 until I saw a recent special on television. I wanted to learn more, and this book filled the bill. Willie Drye laid the groundwork by telling about the residents of the Keys and what life was like then before the storm. He explained how isolated they became with one only road in and out and how the planned-for railroad would improve things immensely. The stories of the veterans who lived in the area to work on those railroads were well told. I found the book riveting and hard to put down until toward the end. Once the book turned to discussing the "blame game" and how the various agencies tried to save face in light of the deaths of so many veterans, it bogged down for me and lost a lot of its verve. Nevertheless, I would recommend STORM OF THE CENTURY as a fact-filled and interesting account of what was a horrific experience for people so ill prepared to survive it.

Reading this book just a few months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf coast, and the subsequent political fallout that ensued there, is fascinating. Because in the 1935 hurricane that barreled through the Florida Keys with winds up to 200 mph (it's the most powerful hurricane to strike the US) we also have a set of "victims," accusations of governmental neglect, and finger-pointing and fudged reports that came with official investigations.

The 1935 hurricane (storms weren't named back then; this one occurred on Labor Day so is often referred to as the Labor Day hurricane) begins years before it actually formed off the Bahamas, and many miles to the north. The story really commences in Washington, DC, in 1932, when thousands of WW I veterans marched on the capital demanding the bonus money they were promised for fighting in the Great War. They set up camps in Washington, and, mainly because the Depression was affecting much of the population, were not very popular. When FDR became president, he decided to ship the vets off to Florida to help construct the road that was stretching from Florida's mainland across the Keys to Key West. Since 1912 the Florida East Coast Railroad ran tracks to Key West, but no road ran the full distance. (Interestingly, the storm killed the railroad for good along the Keys; the road and most other things were built or rebuilt.)

By early 1935, these veterans began arriving in the Keys and were lodged in work camps. Thus the "victims" were in place. Drye tells what life was like in the camps (much discontent, drunkeness, and violence), and how the men felt they were merely shuttled out of sight and forgotten.

The storm formed off the Bahamas late in August and was first predicted to hit Havana, Cuba. Hurricane tracking techniques were still pretty primitive in 1935, with most of the information coming in from ships at sea. The weather bureau, however, located the storm about 200 miles too far south, and its predictions for the Keys minimized the dangers at first. The first finger-pointing of blame after the tragedy was directed at the weather bureau.

Then the storm hit. It was compact and ferocious, destroying everything in its path. Drye relates first-hand experiences by those caught in it. Some survived, many did not (hundreds died). Many of the survivors - and victims - were the veterans who had not been taken off the Keys as they should have been. Here's where the governmental neglect charges come in. Apparently a train had been readied and was even on its way to take the men out, but delays in ordering it prevented it from getting to the camps in time. In fact, the train itself was blown off the tracks by the tremendous winds and the storm surge.

The first official report on the disaster said no one was to blame, it was just "an act of God." This outraged many people and additional hearings were held, but the results were the same. Drye includes some of the testimony taken during the hearings, and it's not surprising to see the half-truths, outright lies, and protect-my-own-rear-end declarations pile up.

Drye tells this story dramatically, informatively, and well. He refuses to cross over into melodrama where the temptation to do so is great (the first-hand accounts). He includes a few collateral and secondary events (the ordeal of the passenger ship "Dixie" on its way to NYC from Texas that got caught right in the middle of the hurricane, and some things about Ernest Hemingway who was at home in Key West at the time) that add to the interest of the book. And one can't help but draw comparisons to the Katrina disaster of 2005. An excellent book. Highly recommended.

This was an excellent story, meticulously researched by the author and presented as if he were actually there to witness it all. Awesome, suspenseful hurricane tale.

Starts off a little slow and gets a little boring in the middle, but all-in-all Willie Drye does a great job telling the story of the hurricane and the political nightmare surrounding it. The parallels to this disaster and it's lack of leadership to Katrina and the bumbling leaders involved in it (Nagin/Blanco) are uncanny.

This is the first book I have ever read on a natural disaster. It was a great story. It was rich in history and science, but not too overdone. I'm from the coast that does not have hurricanes and the description of the storm blew my socks off. Great props to the author even if you could tell what his political motivations were.