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The Flivver King: A Story of Ford-America

3.75 • 480 ratings • 46 reviews
Overview
The Flivver King: A Story of Ford-America is a novel by Upton Sinclair, published in 1937, that tells the intertwined stories of Henry Ford & a fictional Ford worker Abner Shutt.
On Bagley Street in the city of Detroit, Little Abner Shutt begins the story by explaining to his mother that "there's a feller down the street says he's goin' to make a wagon that'll run without a horse." That man of course is Henry Ford. The story follows the progress & growth of Ford Motor Company thru the perspective of a number of generations of a single family.
"The Flivver King" demonstrates the effects of Scientific Management in factories. The Ford factory began with very skilled workers. Thru a process of breaking the skilled job down into simple steps, they were able to hire lower wage, less skilled individuals to do the work. The Flivver King explains how the Ford Company used scientific management to replace skilled workers while successfully increasing production.
The 1st edition, published by the UAW states on the cover, that it was printed "in an edition of 200,000 copies for its members". The book was meant to provoke & challenge its readers.
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Book details & editions

ISBN 0882860542
Publisher Charles H. Kerr Publications (Chicago)
Publication date January 1937
Language English
Pages 372 pages
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About the Author
Upton Sinclair

Upton Sinclair

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Known for writing in a clear, engaging, and easy-to-follow style. The work feels natural and flows smoothly, making it enjoyable from beginning to end.

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