Inglass house, journalist brian alexander uses the story of one town to show how seeds sown 35 years ago have sprouted to give us trumpism, inequality, and an eroding national cohesion. Glass house brian alexander 9781250085801 netgalley. People are genuinely struggling, he tells fresh airs dave davies. Brian alexander s devastating new book, glass house. In 1947, forbes magazine declared lancaster, ohio, the epitome of the allamerican town.
At the heart of this downfall is the anchor hocking glass factory, a major source of employment that turned into a bitter disappointment. He understands intuitively what the city long represented, the communal pride it sustained, and how the shattering of the social contract. Brian alexander s glass house belongs to a new and still fairly accidental genre. In glass house, journalist brian alexander uses the story of one town to show how seeds sown 35 years ago have sprouted to give us trumpism, inequality, and an eroding national cohesion. Glass house book tulsa citycounty library bibliocommons.
Brian alexander s book is an exercise in bravery, but the city isnt the burned out hulk. The weight of it, the pressure, wanting to make things right. Alexander was returning to his hometown to discuss his book, glass house, on the day of its releasevalentines day. This book was glass house by brian alexander, who grew up in lancaster, ohio. City native brian alexander wrote the book, which examines the citys downturn and uses anchor hocking to prove points. The disintegration of lancaster, ohio the atlantic. Chris jones, the chicago tribune an extraordinary book. Today it is damaged, discouraged, and fighting for its future. The 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town by brian alexander st. Glass house kobo ebook the elliott bay book company. Glass house and millions of other books are available for instant access.
Brian alexander s glass house reads more like a great novel. Alexander, who revisited his hometown to investigate anchorhockings decline, found. The anchor hocking glass company, once the worlds largest maker of glass tableware, was the base on which lancasters society was built. The anchor hocking glass company, once in 1947, forbes magazine declared lancaster, ohio the epitome of the allamerican town. In glass house, journalist brian alexander uses the story of one town to show how seeds sown thirtyfive years ago have sprouted to give us. Brian alexanders glass house, about lancaster, ohio. Glass house the 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town by brian alexander st. By focusing his narrative on the inhabitants of lancaster, ohio, alexander personalizes this familiar story in a compelling.
Glass house posits lancaster as an avatar for trumps. Brian alexanders glass house chronicles the effects of. The 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town, explains how the enemy is already within our bordersand no immigration ban could. Glass house chronicles the sharp decline of an all. Brian alexander chronicles the rise and fall of his hometown in his new book, glass house.
All 60 copies offered for sale at the library were snatched up before alexander s talk even began. Glass house by brian alexander is the book i thought hillbilly elegy would be. In glass house, journalist brian alexander uses the story of one town to show how. For readers of hillbilly elegy and strangers in their own landwinner of the ohioana book awards and finalist for the 87th california book. Glass house is lancaster native brian alexander s account of his hometown and its change from a prosperous, vibrant community to a bedroom town with a lot of minimum wage jobs and very little hope. Brian alexander s book is an exercise in bravery, but the city isnt the burned out hulk portrayed. Lancaster residents had heard about the book for months and obviously were anxious to see what all the fuss was about. In glass house, journalist brian alexander uses the story of one town to show how seeds sown thirtyfive years ago have sprouted to. Perhaps our young have seen the effects capitalism run amok has had on their parents, their peers, and their communities, which brings me to brian alexander s book, glass house. Glass house chronicles the sharp decline of an allamerican.
Brian alexander is a contributing writer for the atlantic. Glass house chronicles the sharp decline of an allamerican factory town glass house chronicles the. Brian alexander s glass house dramatizes vividly how a halfcentury of economic progress dismantled americas oncesturdy middle class. Brian alexanders glass house belongs to a new and still fairly accidental genre. Glass house chronicles the sharp decline of an allamerican factory town once a bustling town, lancaster, ohio, is now beset by unemployment, low wages and drug abuse. Glass house 2017 tells the cautionary tale of lancaster, ohio, a town that went from boom to bust over the course of the past fifty years. Glass house views the rise and fall of us industrialism through one. Over the last several decades, lancaster has transformed from a model u. Lancaster native brian alexander chronicles the rise and fall of his hometown in his new book, glass house. The 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town alexander, brian on.
A journalist examines how corporate america and the politics enabling it have corroded an ohio city to its very foundation. Brian describes the small town he remembers, showcased in a 1947 forbes article, as a model of capitalism, to what it has become today. By focusing his narrative on the inhabitants of lancaster, ohio, alexander personalizes this familiar story in a compelling, often surprising, and utterly heartbreaking way. Brian alexander s moving new book glass house explores how the undermining by venture capital of onceenviable factory jobs in lancaster, ohio, has nearly killed that oncethriving town. You could write the same book about half of the country. Brian alexander s glass house opens with the image of a cop, eric brown, a veteran of the force in lancaster, ohio, on the verge of tears about the drugs and crime that have infested the town hes sworn to protect. But ive driven by the anchor hocking plant the glass house of the title at least several times a year since the mid70s and seen its decay firsthand. In glass house, journalist brian alexander uses the story of one town to show how seeds sown 35 years ago have sprouted to give us trumpism. With access to the company and its leaders, and lancasters citizens, alexander shows how financial engineering took hold in the 1980s, accelerated in the 21st. New york post newsweek the week bustle books by the banks book festival the wa. Glass house north suburban digital consortium overdrive. Glass house the 1% economy and the shattering of the all.
Glass house the 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town book. Glass house views the rise and fall of us industrialism. Glass house is lancaster, ohio, native brian alexander s account of his hometown and its change from a prosperous, vibrant community to a bedroom town with a lot of minimum wage jobs and very. In 1947, forbes magazine declared lancaster, ohio the epitome of the allamerican town. Glass house author discusses decline of small towns with.
The 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town. Brian alexander, a reporter and writer who has worked for nbc news and wired magazine, is the author of the new book glass house. Alexander grew up in lancaster, ohio, which is about 30 miles southeast of columbus. Glass house the 1% economy and the shattering of the allamerican town ebook. This story is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the current state of affairs in american society and.
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