Memphis Reads Archive

Labor Day is Monday September 6. It is a holiday designated to honor the working citizens of this country. The first Labor Day ceremony was held in Philadelphia on December 28, 1869, by a labor union of tailors called the Knights of Labor. Many years later, the first Monday of September was set aside as a federal holiday.

All Memphis libraries are closed Monday, so we've selected a few books about workers you might enjoy reading at home.


For research about the history of labor in America, try:
Working Americans: 1880-1999 by Scott Derks

This five-volume reference collection chronicles the history and growth of working class families by decade. Each volume profiles the income and expenses of the average working family, as it details what they wore, choices for entertainment, and the products they purchased. Vintage photographs and advertisements transform this collection into more than a traditional reference book. Did you know a 14-carat man’s wedding ring cost $2.59 in 1912 or that a Simmons Beautyrest Mattress cost $39.50 in 1942?

More reading suggestions for Labor Day

If you think your current job is tough, try:
Dangerous Jobs: the World's Riskiest Ways to Make an Extra Buck by Abigail R. Gehring


If you want to read the book that inspired the 2006 film, Fast Food Nation, try:
Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the American Meal by Eric Schlosser



If you want an investigator’s experience in numerous jobs, try:
Punching In: the Unauthorized Adventure of a Front-line Employee by Alex Frankel



If you stumbled into a career you never dreamed of having, try:
Working Fire: Making of an Accidental Fireman by Zac Unger

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