MAKING IT IN AMERICA The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. (And How It Got That Way)

Natalie Duke perfectly delivers the tone of Slade's concise deep dive into how America came to reject domestic manufacturing and the long-term damage that resulted. Listeners may be familiar with how union membership has bottomed out, the ripple effects of so-called free-trade agreements, and the explosive growth of online shopping. Slade's audiobook brings this damaging history together--with infuriating results. In Duke's performance one hears compassionate notes when she recounts stories of decimated communities and families. Her tone shifts appropriately to subtle ire when covering the rising xenophobia that targets immigrant workers, many of whom were the very people who kept the economy afloat during the pandemic. The result is required listening for those who want to understand how our nation arrived at this juncture. S.P.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2024]