30,000 locked out : $b the great strike of the building trades in Chicago

A sweeping chronicle of the 1887 Chicago building‑trades strike, this work pulls listeners into a city where thirty thousand artisans suddenly find themselves locked out of their livelihoods. It frames the conflict as more than a labor dispute, framing it as a clash over the very meaning of individual liberty and the delicate balance between employer and employee. Through vivid contemporary accounts, the narrative captures the stakes for workers, contractors, material suppliers, and the millions of dollars stalled in unfinished projects.

The author lays out the philosophical underpinnings of the fight, examining how each side claims the right to direct or be directed without becoming oppressive. By situating the strike within the broader social and economic fabric of the era, the book invites reflection on how such battles shape the institutions that govern work today. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of the human forces behind one of America’s most contentious industrial confrontations.