The Production of Difference: Race and the Management of Labor in U.S. History

David R Roediger

37 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by Oxford University Press Inc, 2012

0199739757 / 9780199739752

  • Hardcover
  • Used
See all details

Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books Inc

4-star seller

AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026

Hardcover

Condition: Used - Very good

£ 37.06

 Free Shipping 
Ships within U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

In 1907, pioneering labor historian and economist John Commons argued that US management had shown just one "symptom of originality," namely "playing one race against the other." In this eye-opening book, David Roediger and Elizabeth Esch offer a radically new way of understanding the history of management in the United States, placing race, migration, and empire at the center of what has sometimes been narrowly seen as a search for efficiency and economy. Ranging from the antebellum period to the coming of the Great Depression, the book examines the extensive literature slave masters produced on how to manage and "develop" slaves; explores what was perhaps the greatest managerial feat in U.S. history, the building of the transcontinental railroad, which pitted Chinese and Irish work gangs against each other; and concludes by looking at how these strategies survive today in the management of hard, low-paying, dangerous jobs in agriculture, military support, and meatpacking. Roediger and Esch let us see afresh what slaves, immigrants, and all working people were up against as the objects of managerial control. Managers explicitly ranked racial groups, both in terms of which labor they were best suited for and their relative value compared to others. The authors show how whites relied on such alleged racial knowledge to manage and believed that the "lesser races" could only benefit from their tutelage. These views wove together managerial strategies and white supremacy not only ideologically but practically, every day at workplaces. Even in factories governed by scientific management, the impulse to play races against each other, and to slot workers into jobs categorized by race, constituted powerful management tools used to enforce discipline, lower wages, keep workers on dangerous jobs, and undermine solidarity. Painstakingly researched and brilliantly argued, The Production of Difference will revolutionize the history of labor and race in the United States.…

Seller Inventory # CIN0199739757VG

Title
The Production of Difference: Race and the Management of Labor in U.S. History
Author
David R Roediger
Publisher
Oxford University Press Inc
Publication year
2012
Condition
Very Good
Binding
Hardback
Language
English
ISBN 10
0199739757
ISBN 13
9780199739752

World of Books Inc

Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.

4-star seller

AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Item4 to 12 business days3 to 6 business days
First item£ 0.00£ 8.20
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Store description

Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help people read more and waste less, World of Books offers a huge range of affordable, high-quality books — giving both new and preloved titles a second life. The company also operates World of Books – Sell Your Books, an easy-to-use platform that allows customers to trade in unwanted books for cash, helping to keep books in circulation while promoting sustainability. As a Certified B Corp, World of Books is driven by a vision to become the world’s largest and most sustainable dedicated online bookstore. The company measures its success through the positive environmental impact it creates, the value it provides to customers, and its ability to operate profitably while supporting its sustainable mission …

Specialty

Second Hand - All Genre

Seller's business information

SBYB, Inc.

900 Knell Road
Montgomery, IL U.S.A. 60538