Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Rust: A Memoir of Steel and Grit

This book is such a fascinating memoir of the time when the author worked in a Cleveland steel mill for several years during the tumultuous 2016 election. It was full of lovely (but not overly wordy) writing, which matches the no-nonsense environment.

I think it gets the extra star because so much of what Goldback discusses hit close to me and my own work. While I don't suffer from bipolar disorder, the way I related to this book was too real, especially the description of her work. From her fear of driving forklifts (something I have yet to overcome) to her hard hat and trash talking the other workers. Many aspects of my previous and current job is so similar. And since I now live in Midwest, all the midwest vibes were strong. I thought the author handled the politics of the time she worked at the steel mill really well (and portrayed mill workers fairly), and the way she wove her growing up with her progression of the mill was really interesting.

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

An interesting & reflective memoir of the author’s tenure working in a steel mill in Cleveland. It’s much deeper than that, it’s also a memoir of mental health struggles, the millennial generation’s struggle to find their place in the midst of a recession & a divisive presidential election. Even if you aren’t familiar with steel or the Rust Belt, you’ll likely find something in Rust that resonates with you.

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