Masters of Craft

"A sociologist walks in a bar ... and discovers the soul of a new economy ... Mr. Ocejo has a good eye and ear. He has talked to a lot of people. And his book is full of acutely heard and closely observed details."--William L. Hamilton, Wall Street Journal "Why are upscale versions of traditional manufacturing and service jobs considered hip, desirable, and cool? Ocejo, a sociology professor, examines the 'urban village model' that has revitalized urban areas. He looks at four elements of gentrification--craft breweries, barber shops, whole-animal butcher shops, and cocktail bars... Using his own field experiences and interviews with business owners and workers, the author identifies transformations in the U.S. cultural elite that have led to this new service economy, one that is strikingly male-dominated. He uses Chelsea Market in Manhattan as an example of how the reappearance of businesses formerly considered essential, but not prestigious, in exclusive and expensive form mirrors the gentrification of the neighborhoods that once supported them in their previous incarnations. The book reads well... Sociologists and others with a serious interest in hipster culture will learn much from it."--Publishers Weekly "[Ocejo] engagingly portrays several workers, tracing their motivations for choosing a job, their satisfactions and challenges, and plans for their futures. A close-up and often entertaining look at new service jobs in an urban economy."--Kirkus "A fascinating book, full of valuable observations and insights. Particularly impressive is the way it captures the distinctive atmospheres of these jobs."--William Skidelsky, Financial Times "I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the evolution of labor markets, how America will respond to ongoing automation, the production of status, and the role of men in an increasingly feminized society."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution