Customer Reviews

Killing for Coal: America's Deadliest Labor War

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This intricately crafted yet eminently readable book pulls together labor history, environmental history, social history, and economic history to reshape how we should think about extractive industry in the West. We should not ignore coal and other fossil fuels; we should not ignore the environmental causes and consequences of our labors and labor problems; we should not forget the humanity-and hubris--of all sides of ideological and economic fights. Andrews brings a love of Colorado to a work of deep historical rigor and will please western history buffs and more theoretically-inclined folks alike.

I found this work to be a fascinating attempt to apply methods of the French Annales school to American labor history. Andrews contends, rightly in my opinion, that the struggle at Ludlow was simply one violent event in the long struggle between capitalist mine owners and the workers hired to extract coal from underground mines. Andrews demontrates a thorough familiarity with his material; his explanation of why machines were difficult to use in Colorado coal mines (the veins of coal are too irregular is the short explantation) I found both interesting and informative. Andrews attempts an even-handed approach with this subject, which I also found frustrating at times; sometimes it would be better to call a robber baron a robber baron and be done with it.

The innovation of informing this labor history with environmental history brings a new perspective for the reader--or this reader, anyway. I highly recommend this book

KFC is an intriguing look at both the economic and social development of Colorado and the West during the latter part of the 19th century. The centerpiece of the novel is the Ludlow Massacre which was one of the nation's bloodiest labor strikes. The story takes you from the massacre through the events that led up to it including a concerted plan by industry owners to obtain, regulate, and extract not only the minerals from the earth, but the labor producing their wealth. Although Andrew's analysis of coal mining and capitalism in Colorado provides much insight at times it belabors the point. This is most certainly a must reader for the armchair historian or anyone interested in labor/economic history, but it is difficult for the casual reader.

For those interested in the historical (i.e. social, economic, political, and technical) aspects of Southern Colorado coal mining in the early 1900s, Thomas Andrews "Killing for Coal: America's Deadliest Labor War" is a good read.

"If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development."
-Aristotle

This is a brilliant, haunting book by a great historian. It will illuminate your understanding of environmental and labor issues in the American West.

Although this is history it makes for a hard read. Would enjoy only if you had a personal interest in this topic.

This book got a terrific review in the Wall Street Journal. (I shoulda known better.) I'm half way through and the book is just getting going. The first 128 pages could have been cut down to 20. That author repeats himself over and over and over. 'Coal led to the development of the west and industrialization.' There you have the first 128 pages.

Then the author, a historian, (admittedly at a third rate Colorado College) uses some strange ways to prove history. He just makes assertions: 'Miners lied about the cause of disasters just like mine owners.' Maybe yes maybe no but where is the proof. Even a few anecdotes would help but no...just his assertions. He is also way too lovey dovey with early 'Robber Barons.' Yes they were crooks...and yes they built important things...but is it necessary to love them. From a psychological standpoint it is quite strange.

The author also assumes the reader knows nothing. (Maybe he is writing for affirmative action freshmen?) So he can be quite tedious in the telling of this 'should be' compelling tale. I will finish this book. I will finish this book. And I will report my final conclusions...but trust me it is a slog.