Book cover of On the Line: Two Women's Epic Fight to Build a Union

Book description

"Lyrical . . . candid, clear-eyed and utterly engrossing, Pitkin’s writing couldn’t come at a better—or more necessary—time.” —Jessica Bruder, New York Times bestselling author of Nomadland
 
“A riveting and intimate meditation on power, class consciousness, and the true meaning of solidarity.” —Francisco Cantú, New York Times bestselling author…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked On the Line as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

There aren’t very many books by union organizers because union organizers tend to be busy organizing unions rather than writing books. Daisy Pitkin is the rare person who can do both.

In this book, she recounts her own experience as an organizer on a bitter, five-year campaign to unionize an industrial laundry in Arizona. If you’ve never been through a union campaign yourself, this is the next best thing.

From Hamilton's list on the power of the American labor movement.

If you love On the Line...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like On the Line?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 86 books like On the Line.

Browse books like On the Line

Book cover of A History of America in Ten Strikes
Book cover of The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism
Book cover of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,366

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like On the Line, you might also like...

Book cover of The Duke's Christmas Redemption

The Duke's Christmas Redemption by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke who has rejected love, a Lady who dreams of a love match, an arranged marriage, a house full of secrets, a most unneighborly neighbor, a plot to destroy reputations, an unexpected love that redeems it all.

Lady Charlotte Wyndham, given in an arranged marriage to a man she…

Book cover of Coyote Weather

Coyote Weather by Amanda Cockrell,

Coyote weather is the feral, hungry season, drought-stricken, and ready to catch fire. It’s 1967, and the American culture is violently remaking itself while the country is forcibly sending its young men to fight in a deeply unpopular war.

Jerry has stubbornly made no plans for the future because he…

5 book lists we think you will like!