61 pages 2 hours read

Jeanne Marie Laskas

Hidden America: From Coal Miners to Cowboys, an Extraordinary Exploration of the Unseen People Who Make This Country Work

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2012

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Hidden America, Jeanne Marie Laskas delves into nine essential yet often overlooked professions—mining, migrant farm work, professional cheerleading, air traffic control, gun sales, cattle ranching, oil drilling, long-distance truck driving, and landfill management—by narrating the lives of individuals in these fields with creativity and compassion, highlighting their skill, dedication, and importance to society. Sensitive topics include gun sales and migrant labor conditions.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Jeanne Marie Laskas' Hidden America offers a compelling, empathetic exploration of overlooked American workers. Readers praise Laskas for her vivid prose and deep understanding of her subjects. Some criticize the book for its occasional lack of narrative cohesion but overall, it provides an enlightening and humanizing look at everyday heroes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Hidden America?

Readers who enjoy Hidden America by Jeanne Marie Laskas are likely curious about the unseen workers shaping the nation. Fans of Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich or Working by Studs Terkel will appreciate Laskas's engaging exploration of diverse, often overlooked jobs.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Creative Nonfiction

American Literature

Biography

Topics

History: U.S.

Sociology

History: World

Themes

Society: Community