For decades, clothing manufacture was a pillar of U.S. industry. But beginning in the 1980s, Americans went from wearing 70 percent domestic-made apparel to almost none. Even the very symbol of American freedom and style—blue jeans—got outsourced. Eye-opening and inspiring, American Flannel is
the little-engine-that-could story of how a band of scrappy entrepreneurs are reviving the enterprise of manufacturing clothing in the United States.
“As important as it is absorbing … this will be one of my favorite books of 2024.” —Stephen King, bestselling author (and onetime millworker)
“American Flannel is a wonderful book--surprising, entertaining, vivid and personal, but also enlightening on the largest questions of America's economic and social future.” —James Fallows, co-author of Our Towns
“Mr. Kurutz’s on-the-scene reporting provides a ground-level view of what it means to reassemble a domestic supply chain for flannel, colorfully illustrating why “reshoring” is so complicated a task.” —The Wall Street Journal
I spent a year following two rival Rolling Stones tribute bands across the country, while the real Stones were on tour. Here's what a few readers said:
“With the shrewd eye of an anthropologist and the enthusiasm of a fan, Steven Kurutz chronicles the rivalries, absurdities, and occasional ecstasies of bands who engage in the sincerest form of flattery. Like a Rolling Stone shines a generous and affectionate light into one of the murkier corners of rock and roll.”
—Tom Perrotta, author of The Leftovers and Little Children
"A fittingly free-form tribute to what rock music—and rock journalism—used to be." —The New York Times Book Review
Attention Achievers! This handsome collection of spirits writing includes my story on how the White Russian became the favored drink of the Dude and Big Lebowski fans.