Factory Man

How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local - and Helped Save an American Town

By: Beth Macy

Narrated by: Kristin Kalbli

The instant New York Times bestseller about one man's battle to save hundreds of jobs by demonstrating the greatness of American business.

The Bassett Furniture Company was once the world's biggest wood furniture manufacturer. Run by the same powerful Virginia family for generations, it was also the center of life in Bassett, Virginia. But beginning in the 1980s, the first waves of Asian competition hit, and ultimately Bassett was forced to send its production overseas.

One man fought back: John Bassett III, a shrewd and determined third-generation factory man, now chairman of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co, which employs more than 700 Virginians and has sales of more than $90 million. In Factory Man, Beth Macy brings to life Bassett's deeply personal furniture and family story, along with a host of characters from an industry that was as cutthroat as it was colorful. As she shows how he uses legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and sheer grit and cunning to save hundreds of jobs, she also reveals the truth about modern industry in America.

Critic reviews

"In a class with other runaway debuts like Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" and Katherine Boo's "Behind the Beautiful Forevers": These nonfiction narratives are more stirring and dramatic than most novels. And Ms. Macy writes so vigorously that she hooks you instantly. You won't be putting this book down."—Janet Maslin, New York Times

"In a world of blue-collar victims, where logging chains seal forever the doors of mills and factories from the Rust Belt to the Deep South, Beth Macy's award-winning look at one furniture maker's refusal to give in is a breath of hope-and a damn fine story to read. The book tracks John Bassett's fight to keep American jobs on this side of borders and oceans, and keeps one American town from becoming a place of empty storefronts and FOR SALE signs."—Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Most They Ever Had

"Beth Macy has done a masterful job in personalizing the biggest American economic story of our time--how to save American jobs in the 21st Century. John Bassett III is a cinematic figure and quintessential American, battling for his company, his town and his country."—Jonathan Alter, author of The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies

"The author's brightly written, richly detailed narrative not only illuminates globalization and the issue of offshoring, but succeeds brilliantly in conveying the human costs borne by low-income people displaced from a way of life.... A masterly feat of reporting."—Kirkus (starred review)

"Macy's down-to-earth writing style and abundance of personal stories from manufacturing's beleaguered front lines make her work a stirring critique of globalization."—Carl Hays, Booklist

"Macy's riveting narrative is rich in local color.... Vivid reporting."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The unlikely hero of Factory Man is a determined, ornery, and absolutely indomitable...business man. He's the head of a family furniture company and damned if he's going to be pushed around. Beth Macy has given us an inspiring and engaging tale for our times, but not the expected one."—Alex Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Losing the News: The Future of the News that Feeds Democracy, Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and Laurence M. Lombard Lecturer in the Press and Public Policy

An Inspirational American Story

First and foremost, Beth Macy does a wonderful job of making what appears on the surface to be a relatively boring topic, furniture production, into an engaging and personal story which you can become emotionally invested in. In my opinion, Beth Macy does a masterful job of toeing the line between objective journalist and compassionate story teller, which gives this book all the more credibility. The narration is very well done and fitting for the tone of the book. I was able to listen to this comfortably at 1.5x speed.

What a story!

An amazing story that is very detail and precisely written. John Bassett III was in a driven man and I enjoyed learning about him in this book.

Interesting History

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend. It is both interesting and educational. All Americans should understand how we lost our manufacturing sector and what can be done. Factory Man gives insight into this timely topic.

Inspirational

What a story to listen! I personally met Mr. John Bassett and his sons. They are down to earth people and enjoyed meeting them. We need to continue to work together (all employers) in Galax for the stronger and healthier-community, which attracts all the age group to come and live and enjoy the natural beauty of Galax.

I Am A supplier to the furniture ind. good read

I Am A supplier to the furniture industry based in High Point, this was a wonderful insight into the industry and where it is today and how it got there. The Glory Days of furniture manufacturing in the United States are over but not gone. there are many manufacturers who have figured out the right mix of importing and domestic production to supply the world's needs. the story of Bassett Furniture is an interesting one, filled with infighting and family competition. having grown up in North Carolina, I appreciate the way the Author doesn't try to paint us as all Backwoods Hillbillies, but rather shrewd business people who made the best of what they had and grew an Industry. overall this was a good read even for people not involved in the furniture industry.

Beth Macy's Sense of Balance is Impeccable

What made the experience of listening to Factory Man the most enjoyable?

The narration was fine, particularly because of the light - but present - use of the Southern dialect where it could add something to the hearing of the words. The balance shown in the writing of this book is nothing short of a literary high-wire performance. The complications inherent in every element of the globalization question (i.e. the people who need the low-priced Chinese goods are the very people who are being hurt by wage compression and factory closures) were pulled out, examined and seen through the lenses of all those involved and then placed back into the scene. Macy beautifully avoided the lure of "solving" the problem or waxing political. She somehow found a perfect spot between describing the effects of the global economy on real people's lives and outlining the macro-level economic and geopolitical realities of the 21st Century. Now I have to go see if JDIII is still alive so I can send him a (reserved) fan letter.

Thank you, Ms. Macy. I'm better for having read your work.

What does Kristin Kalbli bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Non-theatrical yet sensitive rendering. The narration fit the content of the book very well, which could not have been an easy accomplishment for Ms. Kalbli.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Factory Man - A great book, ruined by a no-talent filmmaker

What can I say?

Engrossing book I throughly enjoyed as a Virginian. Extremely well written and performed. Would highly recommend

Great book but too many details

The story, the history and the characters were quite interesting, but all of the similar company names, the many disparate cities and towns, and intertwined family trees made it very hard to follow and sort out in audio format. But I simply gave up worrying about it and treated each listen as a simple front-porch chat.

It's the story of hundreds of factory towns

Would you listen to Factory Man again? Why?

Absolutely. I grew up in Bassett and left as soon after high school as I could get away. My parents did not work for any of the factories (a nurse and a teacher) so I really didn't know anything about the businesses or people portrayed in the book. For me it was a story about any of a hundred factory towns (furniture or otherwise) all over the country. The truth is (and always will be) that unskilled jobs will always transition to the low cost provider. It's how JD Bassett got his start in the first place. The other truth is that some businesses are run well and some aren't (just as the Enron employees). This is a well researched and written tale that is a great example of both of those truths.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Factory Man?

For me it was very touching to know the story behind the naming of my middle school, Mary Hunter.

Which character – as performed by Kristin Kalbli – was your favorite?

Of course it's "Little John", JB III. My Mom and Dad remember him being referred to as "Little John".

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It could be any business in any town.

Any additional comments?

Beth Macy did an amazingly thorough job of researching this book and told a very compelling story that I believe was fair from all sides of the tale. She didn't seem to impose her own personal or political views which allowed me to analyze the story and come to my own conclusions. That's a hard thing for a writer to do and I really appreciated it.

Simply fascinating.

Would you consider the audio edition of Factory Man to be better than the print version?

can't compare

What other book might you compare Factory Man to and why?

Nothing comparable that I know of.

Have you listened to any of Kristin Kalbli’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Jim Franklin nearly killing the auther.

Any additional comments?

It should be required reading for all of those like me and my family who live in the area but "ain't from around here". We've been here for 17 years, I served on the Henry County BOS, but I never knew just how much all these characters were interrelated. Now I know why the place is the way it is. Kudos to Beth Macey.