Wimpy (Paperback)

~ Patrick S. Halley (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 684 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419696602
• ISBN-13: 978-1419696602
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #257,044 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Biography of a Unique Character, October 24, 2008

By	ian lurie "Ian Lurie" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

History is full of influential characters about whom most of us never learn. Winpisinger is one of those - he is one of the most important figures in modern labor history. Whatever your feelings on the subject, if you want to speak intelligently, you need to know about this man.

Pat Halley's book is a detailed, intelligent profile that's a fun read, to boot. Check it out!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a superb biography, October 17, 2008

By	Maurice T. Cunningham - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This biography of one of the most important labor leaders of the twentieth century is both well researched and elegantly written. From the first paragraph featuring the rich detail of an old Simplex wall model clock painfully ticking away, the reader is made part of the world of a true self-made American hero. (By the end of the chapter we find that Wimpy gets rid of the clocks that governed Machinists union efforts, as he symbolically and categorically overturned ways of doing things that no longer worked).

There are any number of impressive aspects of Wimpy's life, from his rise from high school dropout to respected labor leader, his progressive politics, or his championing of women in the labor movement. But perhaps the most impressive theme here is his constant challenging of the status quo and thirst for innovation. One example: his commissioning of a study of the portrayal of labor in mass media, on both network television programs and the evening news. The results showed a mainstream media that ignores the role of unions in improving the lives of their members and indeed all Americans, in favor of negative stereotypes that are as inaccurate as they are biased. Wimpy understood the power of the media and sought to combat the dominance of the corporate model in television series and news programming. He brought this challenging spirit to every endeavor.

Wimpy is a solid achievement as biography and a must read for anyone curious about both the life and times of an American original and the promise of a better life for all Americans. This is a wonderful read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Bio of a Great Labor Leader, October 1, 2008

By	Allison Beck (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent, richly detailed biography of one of the greatest labor leaders of the 20th century. It's also a great history of the Machinists Union and the labor movement. A must read for any progressive, who believes in a society that values workers and work. Wimpy was prophetic. Much of what he fought for remains to be accomplished.