Title: The Life and Times of Walter Reuther: An Unfinished Liberal Legacy
Author: James Ten Eyck
Publisher: Page Vision Press
ISBN: 978-1960946188
Pages: 872
Genre: Non-Fiction / Biographies & Memoirs
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers

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The thought behind how we define ourselves and our lives is often called into question. The need to have some sort of definition which helps put into words how we, as a people, are looked at, thought of, and how we are considered, depend on a lot of external factors; from the things we say to the things we do and so much more. Yet sometimes, to truly find out how we can define our lives, we have to look at the events we live through to see how far we’ve come and what we have been exposed to in society.

For many in the 20th century, this became the case, as events from the rise of the Civil Rights Movement to the assassinations of public figures and so much more became pivotal moments in several people’s lives. This is what author James Ten Eyck’s The Life and Times of Walter Reuther: An Unfinished Liberal Legacy, is all about. The book not only takes readers into the pivotal moments of famed leader Walter Reuther’s life, but the societal moments that he was a part of and what so many people lived through at that time. From his work in the Civil Rights Movement to the environmental work he proposed and the attempts made on his life several times up until his tragic passing, the book takes readers on an emotional journey into the 20th century.

The author does a fantastic job of crafting a book which feels both educational and emotional all at once. The events are exposed which the famed leader went through as he participated and helped organize some of the most well recognized movements in both Union work and the Civil Rights Movement. The work that he put in became pivotal to the growing divide between what we know now to be Republicans and Democrats, and the emerging political divergence from the quiet politics many Americans had grown comfortable with in the 50s, is greatly felt in this book. The insight and personal experiences the author had growing up during these tumultuous times make the book feel not only personal and well-crafted, but engaging – all at once.

This is the perfect lengthy read for those who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those which balance biographical storytelling with history, culture, and insight into notable leaders in American society during the 20th century. The detail which went into the author’s writing allows readers not familiar with this period of American history to feel transported into this era, and the readers not only gains insight into Walter Reuther’s contributions to some of history’s most prolific moments, but a political dynamic which is still felt to this day, both in politics in general and the societal elements which contribute to the immigration discussions and race relations, in a well-voiced narration, as they stand today.