Factory Man by Beth Macy Summary
Overview of Factory Man
"Factory Man" chronicles John Bassett III's battle against Chinese imports to save American jobs. This NYT bestseller sparked crucial debates on globalization's human cost, with Pulitzer winner Rick Bragg calling it "a breath of hope - and a damn fine story to read."
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Key takeaways
The Last Stand of an American Factory Man
What would you do if a Communist Party official suggested you close your family's century-old factories and let him supply you instead-at prices so low they defied economic logic? In 2002, John D. Bassett III, third-generation furniture maker from rural Virginia, found himself in exactly this position. Standing in a dusty Dalian factory near the North Korean border, he watched Chinese businessman He YunFeng unveil plans for an "American Furniture Industrial Park" designed to flood U.S. markets with bedroom sets at what YunFeng called "tuition price"-selling at $100 to capture market share, even at a loss. For most American manufacturers, this moment signaled surrender. For JBIII, it meant war. His subsequent battle against Chinese dumping would make him an outcast among competitors already offshoring production, alienate family members, and ultimately save hundreds of American jobs while revealing globalization's brutal human cost.
Sawdust Empire: Building the Bassett Dynasty
Little John's Rebellion: Forging Identity Beyond the Name
Reinvention in Galax: Building Something His Own
The Chinese Tsunami: When Globalization Came Home
The Antidumping War: Taking on an Industry and a Superpower
The Price of Victory: Jobs Saved, Lives Changed
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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