61 pages • 2 hours read
Jeanne Marie LaskasHidden America: From Coal Miners to Cowboys, an Extraordinary Exploration of the Unseen People Who Make This Country Work
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Hidden America, Jeanne Marie Laskas delves into nine essential yet often overlooked professions—mining, migrant farm work, professional cheerleading, air traffic control, gun sales, cattle ranching, oil drilling, long-distance truck driving, and landfill management—by narrating the lives of individuals in these fields with creativity and compassion, highlighting their skill, dedication, and importance to society. Sensitive topics include gun sales and migrant labor conditions.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jeanne Marie Laskas' Hidden America offers a compelling, empathetic exploration of overlooked American workers. Readers praise Laskas for her vivid prose and deep understanding of her subjects. Some criticize the book for its occasional lack of narrative cohesion but overall, it provides an enlightening and humanizing look at everyday heroes.
Who Should Read Hidden America?
Readers who enjoy Hidden America by Jeanne Marie Laskas are likely curious about the unseen workers shaping the nation. Fans of Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich or Working by Studs Terkel will appreciate Laskas's engaging exploration of diverse, often overlooked jobs.