When the Revolution Comes

“Taking on an enormous corporation isn’t for the faint of heart; thank goodness Smalls . . . has a heart strong enough to keep struggling for his colleagues. . . . As he lays out his tumultuous personal journey . . . [Smalls] also lays out a manifesto for embracing change, even when it’s imperfect.” —Los Angeles Times

“An electrifying story of how one of the least visible—and most important—people in global commerce turned the pandemic into an opportunity for change.”—Our Culture

“With candor and fierce moral clarity, Chris Smalls takes readers behind the scenes of the most consequential labor uprising in modern history—and it’s one hell of a ride. What begins as a gripping personal narrative grows into a blueprint for worker-led resistance, full of stubborn hope and a timely reminder of what ordinary people can achieve, if only we come together.”­ —Jessica Bruder, author of Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

“Reading this wonderful book, I can hear Chris Smalls’s powerful voice as he exposes the abominable exploitation of young workers in the online retail sector. This book provides inspiration and hope for so many who have been ground down by corruption and poverty.”—Jeremy Corbyn

“When The Revolution Comes is an honest, courageous, painful, and wildly inspiring story of one man’s journey to make what seemed impossible, possible. Smalls leaves us with one of the most important lessons of social change—when we refuse to accept injustice, every day, and everywhere, for ourselves and for others, remarkable and transformative change is not only possible, it is inevitable.” —Alicia Garza, author of The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart

“Chris Smalls is the everyman: a hard-working American who discovers that his ambition, his Blackness—and even his hope—threaten the multi-billion dollar corporations calling the shots in the U.S. An intimate and heartbreaking account.” —Rachel Slade, author of Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. (And How It Got That Way)

“Smalls is a tireless advocate for everyday workers, unafraid to speak truth to power: whether it’s standing up to corporate giants or calling out political leaders who fail to make good on their word. His clarity of vision and tenacity of approach are apparent on every page of this galvanizing story, which is nothing short of a clarion call for what we can achieve when we band together.”— Ericka Hart, author of Nasty Work: Resist Systems, Explore Desire, Liberate Yourself

“Chris Smalls has given us one of the best autobiographies in American labor history, revealing with truth and humility the emerging consciousness of a young progressive, then elucidating with care the myriad challenges of a grassroots battle for workers’ rights, one that has made him an inspiration to that struggle around the world.”—Philip Dray, author of There is Power in a Union: The Epic Story of Labor in America

“When the Revolution Comes is, like its author, vibrant and captivating. This highly readable account braids the story of Smalls’ rough but lively youth with fresh insights about being working class and Black in America. The party promoter-turned warehouse worker-turned activist’s twisty memoir culminates with his recent labor organizing, which gave him a new sense of meaning. That feeling—of solidarity and power—is then transmitted to the reader. Smalls’ book is a rare combination—a unionist how-to and a rollicking yarn about finding your true self in unexpected places.”—Alissa Quart, author of Squeezed: Why Our Families Can’t Afford America

“In an age of cloud serfdom, Chris Smalls is Prometheus unbound. His book is our instruction manual for cutting Amazon’s knot and reclaiming hope and dignity.”—Yanis Varoufakis, author of Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism

“Riveting. . . . Smalls tells his David-and-Goliath tale with earnest conviction . . . provid[ing] prospective union leaders with a step-by-step, easy-to-follow handbook on forming a union.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“Delivers a powerful message, highlighting the injustices faced by many workers in large corporations. Smalls’ evolution—from organizing social gatherings to leading a coalition of workers—is both inspiring and significant, making this an important read for anyone interested in labor politics and history and the harsh realities of the workplace.”—Booklist

“Smalls’s plainspoken narrative . . . offers a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of American labor organizing. It’s an inspiring self-portrait.”—Publishers Weekly

“An absorbing account of work—and unlikely organizing victories—at one of the world’s most powerful companies.” —Kirkus

“Smalls is a true inspiration.”—Lit Hub