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When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class
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Expected 2 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
10 days and 18:54:54
15 copies available
U.S. only
From one of the most electric and consequential figures to emerge from the contemporary American labor movement, the remarkable story of his battle to create the first Amazon union in the U.S. and a powerful call to arms on behalf of the working class
In the early days of the Covid pandemic, warehouse worker Chris Smalls and his colleagues continued showing up as the rest of the world was shutting down. A dedicated and experienced Amazon employee, increasingly frustrated by the inner workings of the retail giant, Smalls had already felt himself reaching a breaking point. So, when coworkers around him began falling ill, and with no transparency or assurances of safety coming from those in charge, he made the only choice left available to him. He staged a walkout with friend Derrick Palmer, eventually finding himself on the picket line without a job. But what began as a demand to keep essential employees safe in a crisis would grow into a movement devoted to achieving dignity and security for the American wage worker, sparking a groundswell of organizers at the most notable companies across the nation—including Starbucks, Trader Joe's, and Apple—and leading to lasting change for labor.
When the Revolution Comes is the riveting inside story of how a young Black man from Hackensack, NJ with little-to-no resources led a scrappy band of Staten Island warehouse workers in an improbable fight against Amazon, the second largest private employer in the U.S., and won. This epic David-and-Goliath tale traces Smalls’ dramatic story, from a childhood spent navigating his dad’s stints in and out of prison to his early pursuits of a career in music; from his years of sacrifice and economic uncertainty as a father of three, fighting a miasma of warehouse managerial politics in an effort to make ends meet, to his ascension as the leader of a new generation’s labor movement. Along the way, he details lessons learned from a life spent working paycheck-to-paycheck, advocating for those around him, and persevering in the face of adversity, and shares how those lessons helped him build the coalition that became the first-ever union of American Amazon workers.
A deeply personal and eye-opening account of the creation of the Amazon Labor Union, When the Revolution Comes is both a searing exposé of what it’s like to be working class in America today as well as the empowering story of what is possible when the overworked, underpaid, and disempowered join together, a movement born in community.
In the early days of the Covid pandemic, warehouse worker Chris Smalls and his colleagues continued showing up as the rest of the world was shutting down. A dedicated and experienced Amazon employee, increasingly frustrated by the inner workings of the retail giant, Smalls had already felt himself reaching a breaking point. So, when coworkers around him began falling ill, and with no transparency or assurances of safety coming from those in charge, he made the only choice left available to him. He staged a walkout with friend Derrick Palmer, eventually finding himself on the picket line without a job. But what began as a demand to keep essential employees safe in a crisis would grow into a movement devoted to achieving dignity and security for the American wage worker, sparking a groundswell of organizers at the most notable companies across the nation—including Starbucks, Trader Joe's, and Apple—and leading to lasting change for labor.
When the Revolution Comes is the riveting inside story of how a young Black man from Hackensack, NJ with little-to-no resources led a scrappy band of Staten Island warehouse workers in an improbable fight against Amazon, the second largest private employer in the U.S., and won. This epic David-and-Goliath tale traces Smalls’ dramatic story, from a childhood spent navigating his dad’s stints in and out of prison to his early pursuits of a career in music; from his years of sacrifice and economic uncertainty as a father of three, fighting a miasma of warehouse managerial politics in an effort to make ends meet, to his ascension as the leader of a new generation’s labor movement. Along the way, he details lessons learned from a life spent working paycheck-to-paycheck, advocating for those around him, and persevering in the face of adversity, and shares how those lessons helped him build the coalition that became the first-ever union of American Amazon workers.
A deeply personal and eye-opening account of the creation of the Amazon Labor Union, When the Revolution Comes is both a searing exposé of what it’s like to be working class in America today as well as the empowering story of what is possible when the overworked, underpaid, and disempowered join together, a movement born in community.
- GenresNonfictionMemoirLabor
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 14, 2025
I loved this so much!
This is a brilliant account of Chris Smalls' experience in the labor force as a part of the exploited class and his time organizing a union against the tech giant Amazon. I didn't want to put this book down. Chris Smalls is a brilliant storyteller and he knows it. He is great at placing little pieces of info at the right places that keeps your interest and also creates suspense.
Chris Smalls grew up with big dreams. But because those are increasingly hard to achieve in the US, especially when you account for system racism, exploitation, and lack of social protections, his original plans fell through in different ways. But all of those experiences culminated in skills that are perfect for being an organizer; and once he realized this, he wouldn't be stopped.
The first half of this book talks about Smalls' life with a focus on his experience in the labor market being an exploited worker. From a young age we see how corporations and wealthy people were treating him and other workers as disposable. The workforce in amerika is one that lacks humanity and it is undeniable here.
The second half of the book focuses on Chris Smalls' experience organizing JKF8, an Amazon warehouse, to become unionized. It also has critique on the capitalist system in amerika. He recognizes that amerika is a difficult place to organize as Black and Brown workers because even the leaders of unions, who are meant to protect workers, are overwhelming white and bourgeois and working with a government who also wants to protect capital and corporations over workers. It at times seems like an impossible place to be able to get anything down that would advantage the exploited workers of capitalism.
I really appreciated the critique in the second half because the first half I felt it was lacking and at times wondering where that acknowledgement was. But I think this is true to his experience. When he started to think critically about what was happening and why, he was able to make connections about corporations, govt, capitalism. So the fact that this critique is heavily only in the second half of the book mirrors his own experience. I think this also holds true to who Chris Smalls is as a person. He knows that if we are to build people power, we need to connect with each other and that includes getting to know each other and our needs. Therefore, the first half of this book also reads as an invitation to get to know him.
I recently read Revolutionary Suicide by Huey Newton and this book reminded me a lot of that. I was wondering if Chris Smalls has read it. I find a lot of what drove Huey Newton and Bobby Seale to start the BPP similar to what Chris Smalls also experienced and how that also culminated in organizing the people together. Also while recognizing that this is dangerous work. Once you bring people together, once you get people recognizing their power, you become a serious threat to the capitalist empire and Chris Smalls recognizes this, but also recognizes that we need to stand strong and united in order to create the change everyone deserves for a dignified life free of exploitation.
Highly recommend this book.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a gifted e-arc.
This is a brilliant account of Chris Smalls' experience in the labor force as a part of the exploited class and his time organizing a union against the tech giant Amazon. I didn't want to put this book down. Chris Smalls is a brilliant storyteller and he knows it. He is great at placing little pieces of info at the right places that keeps your interest and also creates suspense.
Chris Smalls grew up with big dreams. But because those are increasingly hard to achieve in the US, especially when you account for system racism, exploitation, and lack of social protections, his original plans fell through in different ways. But all of those experiences culminated in skills that are perfect for being an organizer; and once he realized this, he wouldn't be stopped.
The first half of this book talks about Smalls' life with a focus on his experience in the labor market being an exploited worker. From a young age we see how corporations and wealthy people were treating him and other workers as disposable. The workforce in amerika is one that lacks humanity and it is undeniable here.
The second half of the book focuses on Chris Smalls' experience organizing JKF8, an Amazon warehouse, to become unionized. It also has critique on the capitalist system in amerika. He recognizes that amerika is a difficult place to organize as Black and Brown workers because even the leaders of unions, who are meant to protect workers, are overwhelming white and bourgeois and working with a government who also wants to protect capital and corporations over workers. It at times seems like an impossible place to be able to get anything down that would advantage the exploited workers of capitalism.
I really appreciated the critique in the second half because the first half I felt it was lacking and at times wondering where that acknowledgement was. But I think this is true to his experience. When he started to think critically about what was happening and why, he was able to make connections about corporations, govt, capitalism. So the fact that this critique is heavily only in the second half of the book mirrors his own experience. I think this also holds true to who Chris Smalls is as a person. He knows that if we are to build people power, we need to connect with each other and that includes getting to know each other and our needs. Therefore, the first half of this book also reads as an invitation to get to know him.
I recently read Revolutionary Suicide by Huey Newton and this book reminded me a lot of that. I was wondering if Chris Smalls has read it. I find a lot of what drove Huey Newton and Bobby Seale to start the BPP similar to what Chris Smalls also experienced and how that also culminated in organizing the people together. Also while recognizing that this is dangerous work. Once you bring people together, once you get people recognizing their power, you become a serious threat to the capitalist empire and Chris Smalls recognizes this, but also recognizes that we need to stand strong and united in order to create the change everyone deserves for a dignified life free of exploitation.
Highly recommend this book.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a gifted e-arc.
November 6, 2025
Chris Smalls is, quite frankly, a person who believes in The Dream. Not the random ones, but the one that means you earn an actual living wage, you can afford to feed your family, and you don’t spend your entire life crushed under the soles of some mega-wealthy person’s shoe. Not rich. WEALTHY. There is a difference, and since this man worked for Amazon, he clearly knows that.
Anyone who thinks Labor isn’t important in this century, who believes that unions are obsolete and dumb, and who really thinks that those wealthy folks care about them? Well, you might want to think again. And then you might want to listen to an impassioned voice for the People. That’s who Chris is, honestly. He knows how to hustle, but he knows that all but that super elite 1% or so are closer to ruin than 15 minutes in space on a private rocket. And he’s determined to make a decent life for the ones who really built this economy: the workers.
He’s led an interesting life and he’s not afraid to admit his shortcomings. That only makes him more likable and similar to who you see in the mirror. His message is also a good one: they need us. Why should the wealthy get wealthier while the workers get ground into ash? Why, indeed. I think he’s at the helm of our next big Labor movement. And I think we really need him there.
Anyone who thinks Labor isn’t important in this century, who believes that unions are obsolete and dumb, and who really thinks that those wealthy folks care about them? Well, you might want to think again. And then you might want to listen to an impassioned voice for the People. That’s who Chris is, honestly. He knows how to hustle, but he knows that all but that super elite 1% or so are closer to ruin than 15 minutes in space on a private rocket. And he’s determined to make a decent life for the ones who really built this economy: the workers.
He’s led an interesting life and he’s not afraid to admit his shortcomings. That only makes him more likable and similar to who you see in the mirror. His message is also a good one: they need us. Why should the wealthy get wealthier while the workers get ground into ash? Why, indeed. I think he’s at the helm of our next big Labor movement. And I think we really need him there.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Going into this one I wasn't sure how excited I was to read it. I had heard of the story and it was intriguing so I wanted to check it out.
I devoured this book. Chris Smalls writes a compelling and digestible account of his life leading up to and after his efforts to unionize at Amazon. Despite being from a different demographic and having completely different life circumstances the writing felt very relatable. Smalls has the natural ability to connect with people as he explains in the book. Turns out that ability extends to his written word.
If there was ever any doubt that Amazon was the villain, it will be erased after you read what they put their workers through. As someone who has worked union and non-union jobs, laborer and management, I have to laugh at how scared of unions some places are. When I worked direct care and managed one of the group homes we had an all hands on deck meeting regarding rumblings of unionization. One of the big things they hammered home as an evil of unions was the dues paid. I've worked 3 different union jobs and can say without a doubt that I don't even notice the dues coming out of my paychecks. The amount is insignificant compared to the benefit that the union provides.
I received an advance copy of this from Pantheon but all opinions expressed are my own. This one comes out June 2nd!
I devoured this book. Chris Smalls writes a compelling and digestible account of his life leading up to and after his efforts to unionize at Amazon. Despite being from a different demographic and having completely different life circumstances the writing felt very relatable. Smalls has the natural ability to connect with people as he explains in the book. Turns out that ability extends to his written word.
If there was ever any doubt that Amazon was the villain, it will be erased after you read what they put their workers through. As someone who has worked union and non-union jobs, laborer and management, I have to laugh at how scared of unions some places are. When I worked direct care and managed one of the group homes we had an all hands on deck meeting regarding rumblings of unionization. One of the big things they hammered home as an evil of unions was the dues paid. I've worked 3 different union jobs and can say without a doubt that I don't even notice the dues coming out of my paychecks. The amount is insignificant compared to the benefit that the union provides.
I received an advance copy of this from Pantheon but all opinions expressed are my own. This one comes out June 2nd!
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April 3, 2026When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class by Chris Smalls is a powerful and deeply personal account of resistance, leadership, and the fight for dignity in the modern workforce.
Smalls delivers a compelling narrative that goes beyond a single moment of protest, offering insight into the lived realities of working class life. His journey from warehouse employee to labor leader is told with clarity and purpose, highlighting both the challenges and the determination required to stand against powerful systems.
What makes this book especially impactful is its balance between personal story and broader social significance. It captures the urgency of labor issues today while showing how collective action can create real change. The writing is direct, engaging, and grounded in lived experience, making it both accessible and inspiring.
A bold and important work that speaks to resilience, unity, and the power of standing together in pursuit of fairness and opportunity.
Smalls delivers a compelling narrative that goes beyond a single moment of protest, offering insight into the lived realities of working class life. His journey from warehouse employee to labor leader is told with clarity and purpose, highlighting both the challenges and the determination required to stand against powerful systems.
What makes this book especially impactful is its balance between personal story and broader social significance. It captures the urgency of labor issues today while showing how collective action can create real change. The writing is direct, engaging, and grounded in lived experience, making it both accessible and inspiring.
A bold and important work that speaks to resilience, unity, and the power of standing together in pursuit of fairness and opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Absolutely brilliant read Chris Small is an American hero fighting for the rights of the labor force.I have heard horrible stories about working in these big box warehouses Chris shares with us what a day inside is really like.His efforts and success to create the first Amazon union wow.Chris Smalls is quite the personality and it was so interesting learning about his strong determination .Thanks @pantheon books for my advance copy.
November 24, 2025
Excellent book!!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews