Rivethead, written by Ben Hamper, is a memoir that delves into the world of automobile manufacturing and the culture of the working class in Flint, Michigan. The author, who worked at General Motors for nearly 20 years, offers a raw and unflinching portrayal of the grueling and often thankless work that went into assembling cars on the factory floor.
Throughout the book, Hamper portrays the factory workers as a close-knit community that bonded over their shared struggles and hardships. He writes about the camaraderie and solidarity that developed among the workers, as well as the challenges they faced on the job. From the dangerous and physically demanding work, to the dehumanizing assembly line process, Hamper paints a vivid picture of the struggles that these workers faced every day.
One of the central themes of the book is the way in which the factory work affected the workers' mental and physical health. Hamper writes about the impact of the long hours and grueling work on the bodies and minds of the workers, and how it often led to chronic pain, injuries, and mental health issues. He also touches on the pervasive culture of machismo that often dictated how the workers interacted with one another, and how it led to unhealthy behaviors such as drinking and substance abuse.
In addition to exploring the difficulties faced by the workers, Hamper also delves into the larger political and economic forces that shaped the factory and the community. He writes about the union struggles and the impact of globalization on the industry, as well as the role that race played in the factory culture.
Overall, Rivethead is a powerful and poignant portrayal of the lives and experiences of factory workers in Flint, Michigan. It offers a nuanced and nuanced look at the challenges faced by these workers and the ways in which they navigated their difficult circumstances. Through his writing, Hamper pays tribute to the hardworking people who built the cars that have come to define American culture and industry, and offers a glimpse into a world that is often overlooked or misunderstood by those outside of it.
Rivithead
I relate to his punk, anti-establishment rivalry with order, conformtiy, and complacency. Hamper, due to layoffs, moved into a career as a writer, in which he chronicled both factory life and the effects of the decline in manufacturing on Flint. The V8 engine can either be mounted on an engine stand or bolted directly into the vehicle and then assembled. It was fun until. Writing about his experiences on the line seemed safer. There is no analysis of the machinations of his work place, or characterization of any other human that goes beyond surface level stuff, and even that is half assed. Realized in the form of job category which could have a bearing with respect to either level of education or with a financial background, Hamper together with his lineage is realized to be in one particular category.
Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line by Ben Hamper
. Hamper's stories ring true. Who are the people who made the car that you're driving or what was it like for them on the assembly line they were working when they made that car? Read it for some insight, or if you have been there, for the remembrance. Despite a never-ending litany of drug and alcohol use of epic proportions, both on the job and in their personal lives, violence, mental health issues, workplace injuries, etc. He is well qualified to tell the true facts. The book details the life of an average kid in Flint, Michigan who was pre-destined to end up working as a shoprat in one of the ten auto factory plants in the region.
This wasn't a Jane Austen novel - she wasn't looking for a man. Hamper wrote articles about factory life for Michael Moore's Flint Voice. Let's just say it reminded me of the way I wrote in my high-school newspaper. One could only enjoy reading this book in the same way that one could enjoy falling in love with a dog and then watching it run straight into the path of a Pontiac Solstice. This could have been the specific reason why Hamper never wanted to go and work in the factory.
Tales From the Assembly Line : Books: Ben Hamper despised looking at auto underbellies, so he took up writing. In 'Rivethead,' he describes his unhappy life as a GM 'shop rat.'
The factory's motto might have been the old adage, "You don't have to be crazy to work here but it helps. Those sorts would paint Hamper as a working class revolutionary, an embedded journalist exposing the truth of life at the bottom of the American auto industry in Flint, MI in the late '80s and early '90s. This autobiography covers the career of a "shoprat" working at GM. Can the blame be placed solely on one thing or certain groups such as the policemen, politicians, teachers, or the economic decline? The author effectively portrays the average worker as a cog in the machine of GM. My Mom gave Dad steak dinners for a week.
One plus: the use of the word tranny in the book only ever refers to an automobile's transmission. Ben would have no other reason to state this information other than to show the individuality in each worker. My parents felt sorry for him, took him in, fed him, and let him sleep in my bed while I was away at college Hi Mom! All of it - sad. San Francisco, CA: Miller Freeman Books, p. Having your parents from a particular social class would imply that you also belong to that class and efforts that one puts against this notion do not easily materialize. Hamper himself was a rebellious teen who seemed to have inherited his father's substance abuse issues, and barely graduated high school. Along the way, he tells stories of "shoprats" drinking on the job, devising ways to share work, and creating ways to battle the urge to watch the clock.
Rivethead Hamper Summary. Rivethead By Ben Hamper Summaries Sorry For The.
While I am not a big fan of vernacular profanity, as used here it is at least realistic, the real world being what it is. This was due to a level of specialization that led to the performance of particular tasks every single day. I suppose I would recommend the read to others to get a view of manufacturing from the worker's perspective. Roy for example was negatively affected by this repetitive work and resorted to smoking as a source of relief. He followed family tradition in working on the GM assembly line as he gradually established himself as a radio personality and journalist.
. This paper seeks to offer a critical review of the book. The book brought about a lot of debate between me and my husband. Hamper's own family, however, was unusual in that his father had problems with alcohol, which led to his mother needing to work two jobs. And the antics he describes beget a dangerous, scary place to work when it only needs to be a mind numbing one.
Rivethead: Tales From the Assembly Line by Ben Hamper is a nonfiction memoir of Hamper's life. Goodlad, Michael Bibby: Goth. Download file to see next pages Read More Rivethead: tales from the assembly line by Ben Hamper 1992 Name University Course Tutor Date Rivethead: tales from the assembly line by Ben Hamper 1992 In his book, Rivethead: tales from the assembly line, there are a number of insights that are brought by the working scenario that we are approached by. Being a Rivethead may have been his calling for a time, but writing is obviously what he shines at. It would not stop the author, however, from recounting the 11 years he worked as a GM shoprat. Ben Hamper assembled GM cars and trucks in Flint, Michigan for many years and comes from a long line of auto workers dating back almost to the time of the Model-T.
This report aims at analyzing the operations of the final assembly line at the Mini Oxford Plant at Cowley, and this will be achieved through evaluation of the applicability of various operational management theories and the managerial approaches used in the firm. As many of the GM manufacturing plants were closed in the 1980s, Flint endured an economic recession and developed a high crime rate. Rivethead is written in a style associated with "New Journalism" or "Gonzo Journalism", in which the persona of the writer, usually a cynical and rebellious one, is an inherent part of the story. But neither does Hamper try to disabuse you of the notion that some of his family and coworkers might. He wore a long red cape emblazoned with the letter Q for Quality.
