The American Lineman: Honoring the Evolution and Importance of One of the Nation's Toughest, Most Admired Professions

Electricity, perhaps the cornerstone of Western civilization in the 20th century and beyond, has a luminous history. The linemen who built the electric power systems stretching across the United States are the unsung heroes of the country's history and progress. Here, the lineman's story is illustrated in comprehensive, fascinating detail for the first time. They faced terrible bouts of weather, rigorously long hours, and dangerously energized power lines, and the job of a power lineman is still considered one of the most dangerous professions. With over 250,000 linemen employed in the U.S. today, their work is no less important now more than a hundred years after the spread of commercial electricity.

In a collaborative effort to bring the history of the lineman to the general public across the world, Alan Drew and the Northwest Lineman College (NLC) have created this beautiful depiction of the lineman’s footprint on America. It is a magnificent portrayal of an industry little known by the public, yet which has arguably been as instrumental to the course of U.S. history as the oil or railroading industries. With more than 500 photos and illustrations, The American Lineman: Honoring the Evolution and Importance of One of the Nation's Toughest, Most Admired Professions is the perfect book for anyone affiliated with or intrigued by the power delivery industry and its influence in America.