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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 4 customer reviews )
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2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Amazing Biography of a Unique Character Oct 24, 2008
By ian lurie
"Ian Lurie"
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 found the following review helpful:
a superb biography Oct 17, 2008
By Maurice T. Cunningham
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 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Bio of a Great Labor Leader Oct 01, 2008
By Allison Beck
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.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Biography of William W. Winpisinger Aug 15, 2008
By Editor
"Book Editor"
"Wimpy" is the biography of maverick labor leader William W. Winpsinger, who was President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (AFL-CIO) from 1977 - 1988. Winpisinger was the most outspoken labor leader of his era, and transformed the million-member Machinists Union into a leading force for social change by forming strategic alliances outside the labor movement. He shepherded the union through the rocky Carter and Reagan years, and established a world class training center to arm his members with the skills to prosper in the Twenty-First Century.
He also sued OPEC for price fixing, helped establish the NFL Players Association, was one of the first civilians to use the internet, exposed big media's bias against the labor movement, and was instrumental in convincing Ted Kennedy to challenge Jimmy Carter for the Presidency.
"Wimpy" recounts the remarkable story of a high school drop-out from Cleveland who became one of the titans of the labor movement.
Fast paced, thoroughly researched, and with a strong narrative, "Wimpy" is a must-read for anyone interested in the histroy of America's labor movement.
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