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Ben Hamper's "Tales from the Assembly Line"

Hamper's funny first-person account of working in GM's auto factory is "Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line." He is a third generation auto worker in Flint, Michigan. He first started writing when he submitted articles to the alternative newspaper, "The Flint Voice." The editor then was Michael Moore, who made the documentary "Roger and Me." Hamper appeared in Moore's documentary and also in the short lived TV program "TV Nation." In 1995 he appeared in "Canandian Bacon," a film starring John Candy. He now lives in Sutton's Bay, MI. (Rebroadcast, originally aired 8/09/91.)

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Other segments from the episode on August 9, 1996

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 9, 1996: Interview with Ben Hamper; Interview with Philip Levine; Commentary on an ailing mother; Review of the film "Emma."
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16:15

Poet Philip Levine On "What Work Is"

Levine is considered one of this country's pre-eminent poets. But before he turned to poetry he worked for years at factory jobs. The images of those early days continue to influence his writings. Levine's collection of poems "What Work Is." won 1992's National Book Award. (Rebroadcast, originally aired 7/22/91).

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"Tales from the Assembly Line."

Writer Ben Hamper. His funny first-person account of working in GM's auto factory is "Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line." Hamper is a third generation auto worker in Flint, Michigan.

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This Book Introduces You To The People Doing Your 'Dirty Work'

For his new book, Dirty Work, Eyal Press interviewed people working punishingly difficult jobs — slaughterhouse employees, correctional officers, oil rig workers, military drone operators. He writes that these workers often do jobs that many of us believe we benefit from — in the form of lower prices, safer streets or cheaper energy — but don't really want to think about.

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