A new book titled “Handcrafted Careers” examines the daily lives of workers in the craft beer industry and asks questions Americans are asking, such as: What makes a good career?
Eli Wilson
The author is Eli Wilson, an associate professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico whose research focuses on how work, race, and culture intersect in the new economy. He lives in both Albuquerque, New Mexico and Ojai, California.
Wilson said he was inspired to write the book because of his interest in non-traditional professions like brewing. Often, brewers don’t have a blueprint for how to do their job correctly, so they have to brew their own story. And because it’s a job not limited by a slew of rules about how to make beer “the right way,” there’s disagreement within the industry about what qualifies as authentic.
In an interview with the University of California Press, Wilson said, “I’ve always been fascinated by the type of work that inspires complete dedication and total immersion in the people who work on it.” “Work is worth more than labor and pay.”
Albuquerque is no stranger to beer making. College students, friends, and families have long enjoyed local craft offerings like Bow and Arrow Brewery and the Brewery District. It’s not a career path that most people consider, and one that many enjoy on the streets of the city. When places like the Center and Downtown shine after hours, fresh beer is served to guests buzzing with excitement. Wilson says a big reason he wrote the book was because of the passion and uncertainty many people feel in business.
“I met workers in the industry who were struggling with unspoken assumptions about who belonged in craft beer,” Wilson said. “They’re trying to understand what counts as expertise, what is respected by their colleagues when they’re working without a script. The sheer awkwardness of this job, the practice This methodology and my own creative experience inspired me to write this book.” ”
handmade carrier
The book’s cover is a classic amber color and, unsurprisingly, features silhouettes of three fermentation tanks. This complements the book’s humble beginnings on top of a bar stool. Wilson writes about her less traditional work and less traditional style, as she always had a pint of beer next to her laptop. Lagers, ales, and stouts helped him write his book. Being able to taste authentic, fresh, handcrafted beer helped Wilson define the success of handcrafted beer.
“Writing this book was a truly immersive experience. I was always writing at a brewery, often drinking a pint of craft beer next to my computer,” Wilson said. “I learned to go with the flow. An article about craft beer work eventually appeared in the paper, and new beers were created on the fly.”
But making interesting beer in a tough economy isn’t the only concern for people in the beer industry. Local artists who aren’t the typical “bearded white guy” have a hard time attracting customers because they’re different.
“In an environment dominated by bearded white men, standing out from the crowd can be a source of edge and authenticity. But it can also mean being excluded from key networks, making promotion even more difficult. “There’s a lot of gender,” Wilson said of beer’s other challenges. Craftsmen face their work.
Individuals can purchase his books online as e-books or hardcovers at the University of California Press website.
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