Well, former gm factory worker and writer ben hamper doesnt have to imagine howie makem. Rivetheadtales from the assembly line by ben hamper. And he writes all about it and other assorted hijinks in his hilarious and yes, thoughtprovoking memoir, rivethead. Though rivethead was released over twenty years ago, it is a book.
In rivethead, he describes his unhappy life as a gm shop rat. Tales from the assembly line by ben hamper 1991, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. It is a rambling and often funny account of mindnumbingly dull work, schemes employed by the workers to make it less dull, and the equally inane managerial schemes to, well, manage. Tales from the assembly line, which is otherwise unrelated to the subculture glenn chase, founder of san diego label reconstriction records, is. Hamper was a factory worker with a remarkable ability to write with humor and sensitivity. The man the detroit free press calls a blue collar tom wolfe delivers a fullbarreled blast of truth and gritty reality in rivethead, a noholdsbarred journey through the belly of the american industrial beast. Tales from the assembly line ebooks michael moore, ben hamper, read online rivethead. Tales from the assembly line full collection, i was so mad rivethead. Jul 01, 1991 ben hamper worked on the production line of the general motors bus and truck plant in flint, michigan from 1977 to 1988, and wrote about the experience in this book. This is an exlibrary book and may have the usual libraryusedbook markings inside. Booktopia has rivethead, tales from the assembly line by ben hamper. The author aims to give an insight into the largely forgotten people at the heart of any industrial nation. The kitchen confidential of the assembly line, rivethead is the inside story of working in a factory. The book details the life of an average kid in flint, michigan.
His inspiration came from the noise of his riveting gun, jack daniel lunches and meetings with gm management. Tales from the assembly line ebook written by ben hamper. Ben hamper worked on the production line of the general motors bus and truck plant in flint, michigan from 1977 to 1988, and wrote about the experience in this book. A literary analysis of ben hampers book rivethead tales.
I was wilson pickett stompin up the stairway of the midnight hour. In a voice often as powerful as the riveting gun he wielded in the. Hamper is the guy describing his nervous breakdown, in michael moores movie roger. When moore left for mother jones in 1986, he brought hamper over with him and put him on the cover. Tales from the assembly line by ben hamper alibris. They called him rivethead which suited his character. Jim boutons ball four about downward spiraling from the major league to the minors, anthony bourdains tale about life in americas kitchens, kitchen confidential, and this classic about life on the gm assembly line. Ben hamper takes the reader into the world of the shoprats and rivetheads, nicknames for people who work building cars. Tales from the assembly line by bernard egan ben hamper iii, is a work of nonfiction. Anthony bourdains tale about life in americas kitchens, kitchen confidential, and this classic about life on the gm assembly line.
Hamper grew up in flint, michigan and worked on the assembly line at. And a town where rivethead ben hamper spent 10 years toiling away as a riveter on an assembly line, collecting the tales that ring this death knell for the industrial age. Tales from the assembly line by ben hamper and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tales from the assembly line was published, a memoir of his time toiling at the general motors flint truck and bus factory.
In the midst of a publicity tour for his first book, rivethead. Im not sure in how far the columns are incorporated in the book, but the book elaborated. Rivethead follows the memoirs of bernard ben hamper and his experiences with the assembly line for gm motors. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Discover your preferred publication right below by downloading and install as well as getting the soft file of guide rivethead. Rivethead, tales from the assembly line by ben hamper. Objectively, i will say that this is a well composed book. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Tales from the assembly line kindle edition by hamper, ben.
You will never look at a suburban truck the same again. Tales from the assembly line, paperback by hamper, ben, isbn 0446394009, isbn 9780446394000, brand new, free shipping in the us a former shoprat in a michigan auto plant offers a gritty account of life in the world of manufacturing, on and off the assembly line. Ben hamper despised looking at auto underbellies, so he took up writing. Sep, 2012 rivethead ben hamper down and out memoirs of a line assembly worker for gm motors over the 1980s. Tales from the assembly line download pdf, free download rivethead. In a voice often as powerful as the riveting gun he wielded in the 1970s and 80s in a flint, mich. Tales from the assembly line 9780446515016 by ben hamper and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Tales from the assembly line 1991, a memoir by activist writer ben hamper, tells the story of the years hamper spent working on the general motors assembly line in flint, michigan before he lost his job as part of mass layoffs at the factory. Initially, the term rivethead had been used since the 1940s as a nickname for north american automotive assembly line and steel construction workers and hit the mainstream through the publication of ben hamper s rivethead. Give me liberty an american history seagull fifth edition vol. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The book details the life of an average kid in flint, michigan who was predestined to end up working as a shoprat in one of the ten auto factory plants in the region. Please note the image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,300grams, isbn.
I guess its hard for me to think that this person, ben hamper and others spent so much time mischievously causing chaos everyday they went to. Rivethead by ben hamper abebooks shop for books, art. This is an exlibrary book and may have the usual libraryused book markings inside. Hamper s efforts to avoid assembly line work are legendary. You cant blame ben hamper for feeling a little overwhelmed. Tales from the assembly line, by ben hamper this is not your time to traditionally likely to guide stores to purchase a publication. An untrue tale sunburst book by harve zemach, margot zemach c9b. Growing up in alabama, renkl was a devoted reader, an explorer of riverbeds and reddirt roads, and a fiercely loved daughter. Tales from the assembly line, published 1992 under isbn 9780446394000 and isbn 0446394009. Tales from the assembly line, he sits at the manhattan offices. Books by ben hamper authors like ben hamper what should i. Tales from the assembly line book online at best prices in india on.
Yes, that is what ben hamper was assembling while writing this book. Rivethead ben hamper down and out memoirs of a line assembly worker for gm motors over the 1980s. Ben begins the book by talking about workers on the assembly line smuggling radios in so. Tales from the assembly line michael moore, ben hamper ebook. Tales from the assembly line, published in 1991, is an autobiographical account of his life in flint and subsequent. Had these efforts been directed elsewhere, he would have landed the gm ceo job. Tales from the assembly line from the worlds largest community of readers.
Tales from the assembly line kindle edition by hamper, ben, michael moore. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read rivethead. Rivethead is riveting, funny, eyeopening line working experience. In amongst coworkers going postal in the local bar, drinking on the job and witnessing mental breakdowns, hamper wrote the book during his shifts on the shop floor. Youll laugh at the quality cat mascot and riveting is fun signs because companies are still doing that stuff today. Hamper was asked to keep writing for mother jones, but out of loyalty chose not to continue rivethead. Ben hamper, aka the rivethead, is the one guy with the courage to tell the truth about the american assembly line. The man the detroit free press calls a blue collar tom wolfe delivers a fullbarreled blast of truth and gritty reality in rivethead, a noholdsbarred journey. Tales from the assembly line, one howie makem, the quality cat, enters. Ben hamper an irreverent, at times wickedly funny, look into the american workplace. Tales from the assembly line themes ben hamper this study guide consists of approximately 26 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rivethead.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading rivethead. Rivethead tales from the assembly line by ben hamper a memoir of life on a car assembly line. Certainly paradise was hard to find for those working the line. Tales from the assembly line and millions of other books are available for instant access. Balled and chained to general motors the new york times. Well, you guessed it, ben hamper s prediction proved wrong and he spent ten years in the 70s and 80s on a general motors assembly line in flint, mia shoprat like his father, grandfather and greatgrandfather. Tales from the assembly line, published in 1991, is an autobiographical account of his life in flint and subsequent employment on the general motors assembly line between 1977 and 1988 when he was laid off. This book was written roughly about the 70s and 80s of a man who worked the assembly line for general motors in flint, michigan. Here, in brief essays, she traces a tender and honest portrait of her complicated parentsher exuberant, creative mother. Ben hamper wrote an excellent description of the assembly line and american automobile industry but it was shocking to read how the workers behaved. Tales from the assembly line has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace.
Hamper grew up in flint, michigan and worked on the assembly line at the local gm. Hamper despised the horribly monotonous conditions of the assembly line, its impact recognizable from the ubiquitous monster glaze. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The man the detroit free press calls a blue collar tom wolfe delivers. The authors writing is sooo selfcongratulatorythe book is a mix of ben hamper describing all the ways in which he got out of doing any work while still getting paid, and remarks and vignettes that ben clearly thinks are incredibly funny. Hamper was drawn to the assembly line, however, and even came to prefer the rivet line. The book details the life of an average kid in flint, michigan who was predestined to end up working as a shoprat. He had light brown fur, long synthetic whiskers and a head. Tales from the assembly line by ben hamper online at alibris. Tales from the assembly line by ben hamper goodreads. Hamper worked in the gm truck and bus assembly plant for over 10 years, and along the way met more characters and drank more beer than most do in a lifetime. Buy a discounted paperback of rivethead online from australias leading online bookstore.