On the Books ― A Graphic Tale of Working Woes at Nyc's Strand Bookstore

On the Books is the firsthand comic strip account of the labor struggle at New York City’s legendary Strand bookstore in the summer of 2012. Told by Greg Farrell—an employee of the store who interviewed numerous other staff members—the book examines the motives and actions of those involved, including the management, the staff, the union local, and the people of New York City. Through interstitial comic portraits, Farrell gives voice to his comrades, who often share a nuance of the story that would have otherwise gone overlooked, and provide a depth of opinion and fairness to accompany Farrell’s often very personal interpretation of events. The book explores at once the inner workings of our national retail environment, the struggles as a young working person, and the current state of the book trade.

Greg Farrell is a cartoonist and rapper whose other works include the comics Attaboy, Brendon: A Coming of Age Story, Going Rate, and the illustrated prison diary of Ho Chi Minh. He works at Strand bookstore. He lives in Brooklyn.