Description
Book SynopsisWhy the cabdriver is the real victim of the false promises of Uber and the gig economy. 2007 Noteworthy Book in Industrial Relations and Labor Economics, Princeton University Industrial Relations SectionHailed in its first edition as a classic study of New York City's history and people, Graham Russell Gao Hodges's Taxi! is a remarkable evocation of the forgotten history of the taxi driver. This deftly woven narrative captures the spirit of New York City cabdrivers and their hardscrabble struggle to capture a piece of the American dream. From labor unrest and racial strife to ruthless competition and political machinations, Hodges recounts this history through contemporary news accounts, Hollywood films, and the words of the cabbies themselves. A new preface recalls the author's five years of hacking in New York City in the early 1970s, and a new concluding chapter explores the rise of app-based ridesharing services with the arrival of companies like Uber and Lyft. Sharply criticizin
Table of ContentsPreface to the Revised Edition
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The Creation of the Taxi Man, 1907-1920
2. Hack Men in the Jazz Age, 1920-1930
3. The Search for Order during the Depression, 1930-1940
4. Prosperity during Wartime, 1940-1950
5. The Creation of the Classic Cabby, 1950-1980
6. Unionization and Its Discontents, 1960-1980
7. The Lease Driver and Proletarian, 1980-2006
8. The Ridesharing Era, 2010-2019
Appendix. Data Tables
Notes
Essay on Sources
Index
Illustrations follow page XXX
