{"product_id":"the-hard-way-on-purpose-essays-and-dispatches-from-the-rust-belt-9781451692747","title":"The Hard Way on Purpose: Essays and Dispatches from the Rust Belt","description":"\u003cb\u003eAward-winning author and journalist David Giffels explores the meaning of identity and place, hamburgers, hard work, and basketball in this collection of wry, irreverent essays reflecting on the many aspects of Midwestern culture and life from an insider's perspective.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Hard Way on Purpose\u003c\/i\u003e, David Giffels takes us on an insider's journey through the wreckage and resurgence of America's Rust Belt. A native who never knew the good times, yet never abandoned his hometown of Akron, Giffels plumbs the touchstones and idiosyncrasies of a region where industry has fallen, bowling is a legitimate profession, bizarre weather is the norm, rock 'n' roll is desperate, thrift store culture thrives, and sports is heartbreak. Intelligent, humorous, and warm, Giffels's linked essays are about coming of age in the Midwest and about the stubborn, optimistic, and resourceful people who prevail there.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Scribner Book Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/18\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781451692747\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.30h x 5.50w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/20\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/15\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/21\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew Yorker (The)\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/04\/2014 pg. 11\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/11\/2014 pg. 34\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"David Giffels","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42095577628853,"sku":"9781451692747","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_b1351597-0554-41cd-bf87-e9c42150c875.jpg?v=1651587700","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-hard-way-on-purpose-essays-and-dispatches-from-the-rust-belt-9781451692747","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}