Lawn Boy by "Mike Muñoz is a young Mexican American not too many years out of high school--and just fired from his latest gig as a lawn boy on a landscaping crew. Though he tries time and again to get his foot on the first rung of that ladder to success, he can't seem to get a break. But then things start to change for Mike, and after a raucous, jarring, and challenging trip, he finds he can finally see the future and his place in it"--
Inequality in America by Income inequality has been on the rise since the late 1970s, but the economic and financial crisis of 2008 instigated an unemployment epidemic that dramatically compounded this problem in the United States and catapulted the issue to the center of debate. There is wide agreement across the political spectrum that high inequality is contributing to undesirable circumstances such as stagnant household income, rising poverty rates, and increased borrowing and debt, though there is much less agreement on remedies. This book provides a snapshot of the issues posed by the growing concentrations of income, focusing on the United States but drawing on international comparisons to help set the context. The authors examine the economic, technological, and political drivers of inequality and identify worrying trends associated with its rise. They demonstrate how specific factors have exacerbated income inequality, including technological change, international trade, changes in labor market participation, and the increasing role of the financial sector. Their exposition makes the issues surrounding income distribution accessible to a wider public. As they write in the conclusion: "We have argued that tackling the worst effects of inequality and re-establishing a measure of equal opportunity requires increased investment in crucial public goods: first, education; second, a more progressive and simplified tax system; and third, increased international cooperation to avoid a race to the bottom. Education, tax, and other such policies are pursued by other highperforming advanced countries and can be shaped for the United States in a way that is fully consistent with an efficient and competitive American economy."
The Price of Inequality by This work examines how the wealthy classes have contributed to growing inequality in society and explains how the quest to increase wealth has hindered the country's economic growth as well as its efforts to solve its most pressing economic problems. In it the author, a Nobel Prize-winning economist puts forth a forceful argument against America's vicious circle of growing inequality. America currently has the most inequality, and the least equality of opportunity, among the advanced countries. While market forces play a role in this stark picture, politics has shaped those market forces. Here the author exposes the efforts of well-heeled interests to compound their wealth in ways that have stifled true, dynamic capitalism. Along the way he examines the effect of inequality on our economy, our democracy, and our system of justice. He explains how inequality affects and is affected by every aspect of national policy, and offers a vision for a more just and prosperous future, supported by a concrete program to achieve that vision.
A History of America in Ten Strikes by Describes ten critical worker's strikes in American labor history, including the Lowell Mill Girls strike, the Bread and Roses strike, and the Justice for Janitors strike. 
I Saw It Coming by In this moving oral history, workers displaced by plant closings in Louisville, Kentucky tell their stories, emphasizing their agency, demanding respect for their skills, casting judgment on business and government for not showing that respect, and articulating the sense of alienation that has resulted from violation of their values and trust. Even as they acknowledge the negative consequences of the closings, however, they also reveal the positive outcomes they have seen in their own lives. The stories gathered here not only give the workers' side of the story of plant closings; they also help us understand how oral history narratives illuminate a sense of self, values, and responses to the violation of those values. --Publisher's description.
Why Men Earn More by Controversial and exhaustively researched, gender expert Warren Farrell's latest book Why Men Earn More takes as its stunning argument the idea that bias-based unequal pay for women is largely a myth, and that women are most often paid less than men not because they are discriminated against, but because they have made lifestyle choices that affect their ability to earn. Why Men Earn More argues that while discrimination sometimes plays a part, both men and women unconsciously make trade-offs that affect how much they earn. Farrell clearly defines the 25 different workplace choices that affect women's and men's incomes - including putting in more hours at work, taking riskier jobs or more hazardous assignments, being willing to change location, and training for technical jobs that involve less people contact - and provides readers with specific, research-supported ways for women to earn higher pay. Why Men Earn More, with its brashness in the face of political correctness, is sure to ignite a storm of media controversy that will help to make this thoroughly pragmatic expose Warren Farrell's next bestseller." "
Maid by A journalist describes the years she worked in low-paying domestic work under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers supporting them.
Unions and Labor Laws by Though most workplaces in the United States are nonunion, the work of unions in previous generations helped to create benefits we often take for granted today, such as weekends off, the 40-hour workweek, and medical benefits. And after declining in number for generations, union membership may again be on the rise as weak economic conditions lead employers to impose layoffs and pay cuts. The power of unions, however, has also been responsible for the creation of often corrupt and bullying labor leaders and crippling strikes. Individual unions' attitudes have varied from inclusive to racist, from democratic to elitist. Are union leaders and members heroes or villains? Are employers who oppose unions merely selfish? ""Unions and Labor Laws"" examines these complex issues from a variety of viewpoints.
The People's Pension by "Readers mystified by the yawning gulf between public opinion and current political discussion might benefit from the background provided in Eric Laursen's magisterial history, 'The People's Pension: The Struggle to Defend Social Security Since Reagan' The book offers more than 800 pages of fascinating if gory details about the lobbying efforts and misinformation campaigns aimed at bringing the program down."--Nancy Folbre, NYTimes Economix Blog
Worker's Unite! by "Explains the history of the American labor movement from its earliest origins through 19th-century industrialization, the growth of the labor movement, the current declining influence of labor, and efforts to revitalize American unions. Features include a narrative overview, biographies, primary sources, chronology, glossary, bibliography, and index"--Provided by publisher.
The Big Squeeze by A look at the stresses and strains faced by American workers as wages have stagnated, health and pension benefits have grown stingier, and job security has shriveled. Workplace journalist Greenhouse explores why, in the world's most affluent nation, so many corporations are intent on squeezing their workers dry. The book explains how economic, business, political, and social trends--among them globalization, the influx of immigrants, and the Wal-Mart effect--have fueled the squeeze. We see how the post-World War II social contract that helped build the world's largest and most prosperous middle class has been replaced by a startling contradiction: corporate profits, economic growth, and worker productivity have grown strongly while worker pay has languished. Greenhouse also examines companies that are generous to their workers and can serve as models, and presents a series of pragmatic suggestions on what government, business, and labor should do to alleviate the squeeze.--From publisher description.
The Spirit Level by This eye-opening UK bestseller shows how one single factor--the gap between its richest and poorest members--can determine the health and well-being of a society. The authors also outline a new political outlook in which a shift from self-interested consumerism to a friendlier, more sustainable society is paramount.
The Divided City by Who really benefits from urban revival? Cities, from trendy coastal areas to the nation's heartland, are seeing levels of growth beyond the wildest visions of only a few decades ago. But vast areas in the same cities house thousands of people living in poverty who see little or no new hope or opportunity. Even as cities revive, they are becoming more unequal and more segregated. What does this mean for these cities--and the people who live in them? In The Divided City, urban practitioner and scholar Alan Mallach shows us what has happened over the past 15 to 20 years in industrial cities like Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, and Baltimore, as they have undergone unprecedented, unexpected revival. He draws from his decades of experience working in America's cities, and pulls in insightful research and data, to spotlight these changes while placing them in their larger economic, social, and political context. Mallach explores the pervasive significance of race in American cities and looks closely at the successes and failures of city governments, nonprofit entities, and citizens as they have tried to address the challenges of change. The Divided City offers strategies to foster greater equality and opportunity. Mallach makes a compelling case that these strategies must be local in addition to being concrete and focusing on people's needs--education, jobs, housing and quality of life. Change, he argues, will come city by city, not through national plans or utopian schemes. This is the first book to provide a comprehensive, grounded picture of the transformation of America's older industrial cities. It is neither a dystopian narrative nor a one-sided "the cities are back" story, but a balanced picture rooted in the nitty-gritty reality of these cities. The Divided City is imperative for anyone who cares about cities and who wants to understand how to make today's urban revival work for everyone.--Amazon.com.
The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison by Illustrates the issue of economic inequality within the American justice system. The best-selling text, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prisoncontends that the criminal justice system is biased against the poor from start to finish. The authors argue that even before the process of arrest, trial, and sentencing, the system is biased against the poor in what it chooses to treat as crime.
Marginal Workers by Undocumented and authorized immigrant laborers, female workers, workers of color, guest workers, and unionized workers together compose an enormous and diverse part of the labor force in America. Labor and employment laws are supposed to protect employees from various workplace threats, such as poor wages, bad working conditions, and unfair dismissal. Yet as members of individual groups with minority status, the rights of many of these individuals are often dictated by other types of law, such as constitutional and immigration laws. Worse still, the groups who fall into these cracks in the legal system often do not have the political power necessary to change the laws for better protection.
Injured on the Job by Thousands of employees are injured on the job each year and need to understand their rights concerning worker's compensation and disability. This complete guide clearly defines the rights of injured workers and the responsibilities of employers. Coverage includes how to file a claim, the types of injuries covered, benefits available under worker's compensation, health insurance issues, spouse and dependent's rights, and state-by-state coverage of worker's compensation laws.
Worker's Compensation Law by "Discusses common elements of a workers' compensation program, including filing of a claim; receipt of benefits. Provides overview of the Federal program for disabled non-military federal employees; Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Program; Black Lung Benefits Program; Energy Employees' Occupational Illness Compensation Program; Federal Employment Liability Act; Merchant Marine Act; Veterans Disability programs; Social Security Disability Insurance program"--Provided by publisher.
The Muckrakers and the Progressive Era by Provides a detailed account of the muckraking movement in early twentieth-century American journalism and its contribution to progressive reforms. Explores how the muckraking tradition and progressive political ideas have continued through the modern era.
Labors of Love by "Every day for the next twenty years, more than 10,000 people in the United States will turn 65. With life expectancies increasing as well, many of these Americans will eventually require round-the-clock attention and we have only begun to prepare for the challenge of caring for them. In Labors of Love, Jason Rodriquez examines the world of the fast-growing elder care industry, providing a nuanced and balanced portrait of the day-to-day lives of the people and organizations that devote their time to supporting America's aging population. Through extensive ethnographic research, interviews with staff and management, and analysis of internal documents, Rodriquez explores the inner workings of two different nursing homes one for-profit and one non-profit to understand the connections among the administrative regulations, the professional requirements, and the type of care provided in both types of facilities. He reveals a variety of challenges that nursing home care workers face day to day: battles over the budget; the administrative hurdles of Medicaid and Medicare; the employees' struggle to balance financial stability and compassionate care for residents. Yet, Rodriquez argues, nursing home workers give meaning and dignity to their work by building emotional attachments to residents and their care. An unprecedented study, Labors of Love brings new insight into the underlying structures of a crucial and expanding sector of the American health care system"--Provided by publisher.
When Chicken Soup Isn't Enough by The reassuring bromides of "chicken soup for the soul" provide little solace for nurses--and the people they serve--in real-life hospitals, nursing homes, schools of nursing, and other settings. In the minefield of modern health care, there are myriad obstacles to quality patient care--including work overload, inadequate funds for nursing education and research, and poor communication between and within the professions, to name only a few. The seventy RNs whose stories are collected here by the award-winning journalist Suzanne Gordon know that effective advocacy isn't easy. It takes nurses willing to stand up for themselves, their coworkers, their patients, and the public.
Three Squares by We are what we eat, as the saying goes, but we are also how we eat, and when, and where. Our eating habits reveal as much about our society as the food on our plates, and our national identity is written in the eating schedules we follow and the customs we observe at the table and on the go. In this book the author, a food historian upends the popular understanding of our most cherished mealtime traditions, revealing that our eating habits have never been stable, far from it, in fact. The eating patterns and ideals we have inherited are relatively recent inventions, the products of complex social and economic forces, as well as the efforts of ambitious inventors, scientists and health gurus. Whether we are pouring ourselves a bowl of cereal, grabbing a quick sandwich, or congregating for a family dinner, our mealtime habits are living artifacts of our collective history, and represent only the latest stage in the evolution of the American meal. Our early meals, the author explains, were rustic affairs, often eaten hastily, without utensils, and standing up. Only in the nineteenth century, when the Industrial Revolution upset work schedules and drastically reduced the amount of time Americans could spend on the midday meal, did the shape of our modern "three squares" emerge: quick, simple, and cold breakfasts and lunches and larger, sit-down dinners. Since evening was the only part of the day when families could come together, dinner became a ritual, as American as apple pie. But with the rise of processed foods, snacking has become faster, cheaper, and easier than ever, and many fear for the fate of the cherished family meal as a result. The story of how the simple gruel of our forefathers gave way to snack fixes and fast food, this book also explains how Americans' eating habits may change in the years to come. Only by understanding the history of the American meal can we can help determine its future. -- From book jacket. 
Honey by Whether drizzled into our tea or spread atop our terms of endearment, there's one thing that is always true about honey: it is sweet. As Lucy M. Long shows in this book, while honey is definitely the natural sweetener par excellence, it has a long history in our world as much more, serving in different settings as a food, tonic, medicine, and even preservative. It features in many religions as a sacred food of the gods. In this luscious history, she traces the uses and meanings of honey in myriad cultures throughout time.
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? by In the rural America of the past, a woman's reputation was sometimes made by her cherry pie -- or her chocolate layer cake, or her biscuits. As America modernized and as women left the home, entered the paid labor force, and battled their way to success in the professions, mastery of cooking remained an accepted sign that a woman took her gendered responsibilities seriously. Ironically, over the course of the twentieth century, as ready-made foods and kitchen appliances made home cooking less essential and labor-intensive, skill in the kitchen continued to be perceived not only by society but often by women themselves as a measure of a woman's true value.
Notes on Cooking by As an essential primer of immediately useful and utterly relevant guidance, this guide can help anyone become a better cook -- without a single recipe. The book's 217 notes deliver indispensable culinary truths, the highest standards of conduct, and timeless gems of cooking wisdom that have been taught and passed down by top chefs for generations. The notes provide explanatory commentary, helpful examples, and insights from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Georges Auguste Escoffier, Leonardo da Vinci, and many others. They also include life lessons -- about how to bring delight, how to recognise quality, and how to see beauty in simplicity. For the beginner wanting to improve, the seasoned expert looking to review the highest culinary standards, or the food lover seeking a fascinating glimpse into the pursuit of Epicurean excellence, Notes on Cooking provides a unique and invaluable apprenticeship.
Cherry Bombe by It's the first-ever cookbook from the team behind Cherry Bombe, the hit indie magazine about women and food, and the Radio Cherry Bombe podcast. Inside are 100+ recipes from some of the most interesting chefs, bakers, food stylists, pastry chefs, and creatives on the food scene today, including: Mashama Bailey, chef of The Grey Jeni Britton Bauer, founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Melissa Clark, New York Times columnist and cookbook author Amanda Cohen, chef/owner of Dirt Candy Angela Dimayuga, executive chef of Mission Chinese Food Melissa & Emily Elsen, founders of Four & Twenty Blackbirds Karlie Kloss, supermodel and cookie entrepreneur Jessica Koslow, chef/owner of Sqirl Padma Lakshmi, star of Top Chef Elisabeth Prueitt, pastry chef and co-founder of Tartine and Tartine Manufactory Chrissy Teigen, supermodel and bestselling cookbook author Christina Tosi, chef and founder of Milk Bar Joy Wilson, of Joy the Baker Molly Yeh, of my name is yeh The Cherry Bombe team asked these women and others for their most meaningful recipes. The result is a beautifully styled and photographed collection that you will turn to again and again in the kitchen.
JOC All New Rev. - 1997 by Since its original publication, Joy of Cooking has been the most authoritative cookbook in America the one upon which millions of cooks have confidently relied for more than sixty-five years. It''s the book your grandmother and mother probably learned to cook from, the book you gave your sister when she got married. This, the first revision in more than twenty years, is better than ever.
Egg by Offers over one hundred recipes for dishes featuring eggs, from simple techniques for making poached and scrambled eggs, to recipes for brioche and soufflés, covering a wide variety of sweet and savory creations.
Pizza by You can pick Chicago deep dish, Sicilian, or New York-sty≤ pan crust or thin crust; anchovies or pepperoni. There are countless ways to create the dish called pizza, as well as a never-ending debate on the best way of cooking it. Now Carol Helstosky documents the fascinating history and cultural life of this chameleon-like food in Pizza.
The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches by "How do you keep a Dagwood from toppling over? What makes a Po Boy so crispy and crunchy? And who was the genius that invented the Fluffernutter? Discover these answers and more in The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches a chunky little cookbook dedicated to everything between sliced bread. Author Susan Russo has searched the globe to catalog every sandwich imaginable, providing tried-and-true recipes, tips and tricks, and fascinating regional and historical trivia about the best snack of all time. Quick how-to instructions will ensure that every Panini is toasted to buttery perfection, every Sloppy Joe is deliciously sloppy, and every Dagwood is stacked to perfection! The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches is essential reading for sandwich connoisseurs everywhere."
Floyd Cardoz: Flavorwalla by "At his many successful restaurants, including New York City's famed Tabla, Floyd Cardoz built a name for himself by bringing extraordinary flavors to everyday foods and using spice to turn a dish into something distinct and memorable. In Floyd Cardoz: Flavorwalla, readers will learn how Cardoz amplifies the flavors in more than 100 recipes. The simple addition of mustard seed and lemon makes grilled asparagus a revelation; slow-cooking salmon with fennel and coriander takes it to another level. But this husband and dad has the same challenges we do when cooking for our families, for guests, and for special occasions. Here he presents the recipes he cooks at home, where even the humblest of ingredients--such as eggs, steak, and vegetables-benefit from his nuanced use of spice and simple yet impeccable techniques, making this book an indispensable resource for getting weeknight dinners on the table or for cooking a holiday meal. The standout recipes include Grilled Lamb Shanks with Salsa Verde; Shrimp with Spicy Tomato Sauce; Coconut Basmati Pilaf; Roasted Cauliflower with Candied Ginger, Pine Nuts, and Raisins; and Cardoz's Tamarind Margaritas, of course, "--Amazon.com.