{"product_id":"the-brass-check-upton-sinclair-9780252071102","title":"The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism","description":"In this systematic critique of the structural basis of U.S. media -- arguably the first one ever published -- Upton Sinclair writes that \"American journalism is a class institution serving the rich and spurning the poor.\" Likening journalists to prostitutes, the title of the book refers to a chit that was issued to patrons of urban brothels of the era. \u003cbr\u003e Fueled by mounting disdain for newspapers run by business tycoons and conservative editors, Sinclair self-published \u003ci\u003eThe Brass Check\u003c\/i\u003e in the years after \u003ci\u003eThe Jungle\u003c\/i\u003e had made him a household name. Despite Sinclair's claim that this was his most important book, it was dismissed by critics and shunned by reviewers. Yet it sold over 150,000 copies and enjoyed numerous printings. \u003cbr\u003e A substantial introduction to this paperback edition by Robert W. McChesney and Ben Scott asserts the book's importance as a cornerstone critique of commercial journalism and a priceless resource for understanding the political turbulence of the Progressive Era. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Upton Sinclair\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0252071107\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780252071102\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Illinois Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/18\/2002\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 480\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.17lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.40h x 5.52w x 1.01d","brand":"Upton Sinclair","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43990118367487,"sku":"9780252071102","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_850702bd-c7a6-4803-8a35-e37a61f0a5d6.jpg?v=1683303099","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-brass-check-upton-sinclair-9780252071102","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}