Description:
This book, based on one-year's participant observation on a London construction site, outlines the on-going connections and intersections between economy, state, class and culture in the construction industry by taking a close-up look at a section of building workers and businessmen.
Review Quotes:
'Thiel's study sheds new light on an area of labour that has been understudied, and under theorised by ethnographers. This is a sensitive analysis of working life in the British construction industry, which tackles the most fundamental debates in labour studies with ambition and care. Thiel's book is required reading for anyone seeking to understand more about one of the largest and most fascinating sectors of the global economy.'-Dr. Andrew Sanchez, London School of Economics and Political Science
'...a welcome addition to the scarce resources which document working life in the construction industry.'
'The strength of the book lies in the words of the workers who describe their ethnic and social backgrounds, approaches to work, money, family life, aspirations and their opinions of the social hierarchy within the building site itself. Alongside this are extracts from Thiel's own ethnographic diary of his time on site, which provides very detailed observations of building site life and work.'
'...it makes compelling reading, is a very important addition to existing literature and is highly recommended to everyone engaged in research on, or with an interest in, today's construction industry.'-Christine Wall, University of Westminster, London, in CLR News, no 3 2012