This fascinating and helpful book traces the evolution of the American worker from the apprentices and journeymen of the 18th century, to the factory worker of the 19th century, to the “company man” of the 1950’s. It’s a timeline that has brought us to an unprecedented period of American history, one in which we’re no longer bound to the daily grind of 9-to-5. We’re revolutionizing the way we work. We adapt on the fly, learn new skills, change our focus, and in some cases straight up demand a better opportunity. That’s what “Freelance Nation: Work When You Want, Where You Want” by J. Melissa Cooper is all about: workers taking the risk of leaping for the employment stars. We want more freedom, more time with our families and brighter outlooks for our futures, and we want them on our own terms. The book reveals these benefits do not come easily, however. Self-employment tax, retirement costs and health insurance are all real concerns facing the gig worker.
It is a central theme of this book that with the emerging freelancing of skilled labor, we are seeing the next step in the long and continuous evolution of employment relationships. Once relegated to the inferior role in these interactions, employees can now be equals, peers or even experts. We are consultants, graphic designers, writers, actors, accountants, attorneys and entrepreneurs.
– Thomas Hauck, professional book editor and ghostwriter in Gloucester, MA, serves both emerging and published authors.