Down-to-Read with Daniela — Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (Most) Americans Won’t Do (2009) by Gabriel Thompson

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Age Group:

Adult

 

Genre:

Non-Fiction, Social Commentary

           

Story:

Join journalist Gabriel Thompson as he embarks on a year of working three of the most challenging American immigrant jobs. 

 

My Thoughts:

Thompson does an effective job of revealing the day-to-day struggles of three challenging American jobs: cutting lettuce alongside Latino immigrants, working the night shift at a chicken slaughterhouse in Alabama and dodging taxis as a bicycle delivery man in New York. Working in the Shadows is an enjoyable, swift read with many valid, objective points being made. Thompson’s style of immersion journalism might not be revolutionary, but it was definitely compelling and illuminating. Although I already had a vague knowledge of immigrant exploitation, I certainly had no idea about the grueling and exploitative nature of work on the front lines. 

 

Borrow Working in the Shadows from your local VPL Library!

 

If you liked Working in the Shadows, try Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.

 

Have you read Working the Shadows yet? If so, what did you think?