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Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking Out the Jams
"M. L. Liebler is the poet laureate of America’s working class. The collection he has assembled rings out with truth, intensity and love. In a world full of despair, it is comforting to have writers so gifted and generous singing our song of rebellion and hope. This book is the kind of spark we need these days—a rich, intense and inspiring collection for and about those who get their hands dirty every single day."—Michael Moore
“This book is not ‘fresh-air.’ It is a mighty wind. . . . While the nightly news continues to ‘do the numbers,’ as if we were all investors, here’s the larger part—the real grit and savor of American life. Spelled out in plain English.”—Peter Coyote
From the White Stripes' "The Big Three Killed My Baby" to Eminem's "Lose Yourself"; from the folk anthems of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie to the poems of Walt Whitman and Amiri Baraka; from the stories of Willa Cather and Bret Lott to the rabble-rousing work of Michael Moore—this transcendent volume touches upon all aspects of working-class life.
A collection about living while barely making one, about layoffs and picket lines, about farmers, butchers, miners, waitresses, assembly-line workers, and the "Groundskeeper Busted Reading in the Custodial Water Closet," this is literature by the people and for the people.
Contributors include:
Amiri Baraka
Bonnie Jo Campbell
Willa Cather
Andrei Codrescu
Dorothy Day
Emily Dickinson
Diane di Prima
Bob Dylan
Eminem
Woody Guthrie
Allison Adelle Hedge Coke
Lolita Hernandez
Philip Levine
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Bret Lott
Thomas Lux
Thomas Lynch
Michael McClure
Michael Moore
Mark Nowak
Edward Sanders
John Sayles
Quincy Troupe
MIck Vranich
Diane Wakoski
Jack White
Walt Whitman
. . . and many more.
“This book is not ‘fresh-air.’ It is a mighty wind. . . . While the nightly news continues to ‘do the numbers,’ as if we were all investors, here’s the larger part—the real grit and savor of American life. Spelled out in plain English.”—Peter Coyote
From the White Stripes' "The Big Three Killed My Baby" to Eminem's "Lose Yourself"; from the folk anthems of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie to the poems of Walt Whitman and Amiri Baraka; from the stories of Willa Cather and Bret Lott to the rabble-rousing work of Michael Moore—this transcendent volume touches upon all aspects of working-class life.
A collection about living while barely making one, about layoffs and picket lines, about farmers, butchers, miners, waitresses, assembly-line workers, and the "Groundskeeper Busted Reading in the Custodial Water Closet," this is literature by the people and for the people.
Contributors include:
Amiri Baraka
Bonnie Jo Campbell
Willa Cather
Andrei Codrescu
Dorothy Day
Emily Dickinson
Diane di Prima
Bob Dylan
Eminem
Woody Guthrie
Allison Adelle Hedge Coke
Lolita Hernandez
Philip Levine
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Bret Lott
Thomas Lux
Thomas Lynch
Michael McClure
Michael Moore
Mark Nowak
Edward Sanders
John Sayles
Quincy Troupe
MIck Vranich
Diane Wakoski
Jack White
Walt Whitman
. . . and many more.
- GenresPoetryNonfiction
470 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 10, 2014
M.L.Lieber did a fine job of putting together this collection of contemporary American authors on the subject of the working life. His short piece included in this volume is amusing and features the loca bar, his poems deep.
The short stories all show pure grit and endurance. This is work at it's most heartbreaking, where the worker lives on the edge and may or may not make it past the job interview or strike or layoff. I read my first Willa Cather story, most of the others ring with the truth that the US is not all built on streets of gold or looks like life in the movies.
The nonfiction selections are mostly historical and portray a sympathetic view toward workers, sometimes at the point of collective labor. I loved the selection from "Life in the Iron Mills" or the "Korl Woman" by Rebecca Harding Davis.
The poetry sections include some classics from Henry Wordsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie as well as many selections from well-known poets like Philip Levine, Diane di Parma and Eminem's "Lose Yourself". Most of the poems tend to be polished long poetry with plenty of thoughts about work and how it affects our lives and are entirely chant-able.
The short stories all show pure grit and endurance. This is work at it's most heartbreaking, where the worker lives on the edge and may or may not make it past the job interview or strike or layoff. I read my first Willa Cather story, most of the others ring with the truth that the US is not all built on streets of gold or looks like life in the movies.
The nonfiction selections are mostly historical and portray a sympathetic view toward workers, sometimes at the point of collective labor. I loved the selection from "Life in the Iron Mills" or the "Korl Woman" by Rebecca Harding Davis.
The poetry sections include some classics from Henry Wordsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie as well as many selections from well-known poets like Philip Levine, Diane di Parma and Eminem's "Lose Yourself". Most of the poems tend to be polished long poetry with plenty of thoughts about work and how it affects our lives and are entirely chant-able.
January 30, 2011
This book is a compilation of short pieces on work, working people and the struggle of the labor movement. It contains poetry, song lyrics, essays and memoirs covering about 150 years of American life. While by very design, the piece is uneven, there are a number of gems in here and despite the 500+ page length, I found myself turning the pages of this one quite quickly.
My one disappointment was how little faith or philosophy was represented. The essays and memoirs of Dorothy Day from the Catholic Worker movement were a notable exception, but I was surprised how little the characters in these stories and poems discussed God. From my experience with working class people, God is still a big deal to them. Seems like that would be expressed in their art too.
Be warned, this book is a bit of a downer. The plight of the working man hasn't been pretty throughout history. These stories and poems will put you shoulder to shoulder with him, in all of his sordid glory.
My one disappointment was how little faith or philosophy was represented. The essays and memoirs of Dorothy Day from the Catholic Worker movement were a notable exception, but I was surprised how little the characters in these stories and poems discussed God. From my experience with working class people, God is still a big deal to them. Seems like that would be expressed in their art too.
Be warned, this book is a bit of a downer. The plight of the working man hasn't been pretty throughout history. These stories and poems will put you shoulder to shoulder with him, in all of his sordid glory.
June 17, 2012
Though I'm far from finished, Ben Hamper's introduction and the table of contents are riveting (no working-class pun intended). M.L. Liebler's selection skills have already increased my respect for those who are editors of collections vs. "authors."
Want to read
February 7, 2011Professor Liebler was kind enough to give me a signed copy of his latest book collaboration as a Christmas present.
July 15, 2014
A wonderful compilation of short stories, essays, poetry all about work and the worker. I have bookmarked a lot of favorites.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews