Why people recommend it
What Work Is is a celebrated poetry collection by Philip Levine that chronicles the lives of American laborers and working-class struggles. Greg Cowles mentioned What Work Is by Philip Levine on the podcast The Book Review during the episode titled Inside The New York Times Book Review: The Year in Poetry, which aired on July 18, 2024. While discussing notable poets and collections, Greg Cowles brought up Philip Levine and his book, noting that the poet worked in a very specific thematic vein. Greg Cowles explicitly shared that Philip Levine's collection is a book that he personally returns to and frequently rereads. This praise highlighted the enduring power and personal resonance of the poetry contained within the volume. The discussion on the podcast emphasized the lasting impact of Philip Levine's contributions to American poetry, particularly his focus on dignity, labor, and the realities of working-class life. Greg Cowles's remarks served to remind listeners of the enduring quality of the collection, reinforcing its status as a vital and enduring work of modern American literature that continues to reward close and repeated reading by poetry enthusiasts and critics.
Who recommended it
- Greg Cowles Recommended
Greg Cowles — 1 mention
“Philip LaVine working in in kind of the same vein his book what work is it is a book that I reread”