From the iron beams of skyscrapers to the framing of family homes, America's infrastructure was built by hands like mine—14 years swinging hammers as a carpenter and tying rebar as an ironworker, plus 20 years ensuring safety on job sites. But those hands are vanishing.
In this raw, no-BS memoir, construction safety pro Kim Pierce exposes the trades crisis: millions retiring, kids funneled to college debt, and regulations stifling new blood. Through gritty stories, data, and solutions, she charts a comeback: fund apprenticeships, start conversations, and streamline access.
If you love Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs grit or J.D. Vance's heartland truths, this is your blueprint. Reclaim the trades. Build America strong.
