Turbulent Years: A History of the American Worker, 1933-1941. [Paperback]

Irving, Bernstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1970

"A broad panorama in brilliant prose." —American Historical Review

In this groundbreaking work of labor history, Irving Bernstein uncovers a period when industrial trade unionism, working-class power, and socialism became the rallying cry for millions of workers in the fields, mills, mines, and factories of America. With an introduction by Frances Fox Piven.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frances Fox Piven is faculty at the Graduate Center of CUNY. She is the author of several books on the social history of the Great Depression, including Regulating the Poor and Poor People's Movements, co-authored with Richard Cloward. More recently, she has written The War at Home, Challenging Authority: How Ordinary People Change America, and Keeping the Black Vote Down.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co (P) (January 1970)
• ISBN-10: 039511778X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395117781
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,592,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a probably unparalleled labor history, September 11, 2010

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Alan G. Nasser Sr. (Tacoma, Wa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Turbulent Years: A History of the American Worker, 1933-1940 (Paperback)

It's a great blessing that this has been reissued. More recent histories have the advantage of hindsight, so that of course much more of the present is available to illuminate the long historical story. Still, this book loses none of its thoroughness and insight in the light of more recent studies. There is much to learn here.

5.0 out of 5 stars Peerless Labor History, January 8, 2012

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Chimonsho (Turtle Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Turbulent Years: A History of the American Worker, 1933-1940 (Paperback)

Bernstein's masterpiece is more relevant than ever in an era of corporate-media-government assaults on unions and workers' rights. The research for his labor trilogy was prodigious; I still love this passage (imperfectly recalled) from "The Lean Years:" "Anyone wishing to dispute these findings can check the citations. This is a challenge and not an invitation." Beyond massive evidence for the merits and contributions of industrial unionism, a main virtue is its spirit. It embodies the energy, hope and resourcefulness of 1930s labor as a true social movement. There is broad sympathy for all sectors of American society, though some nasty corporations & pols receive a good whacking now and again. One quibble: Piven's introductory update enhances the value of the work, but the original edition covered 1933-41. Why only to 1940 now? It looks the same as published in 1969. Still, well-written with conviction and ironic wit, Bernstein makes history come alive. This will make readers feel proud to be Americans, not to mentions unions sisters and brothers.