79 pages • 2 hours read
Sweat
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Book Brief
144
Play • Fiction
Reading, Pennsylvania • 2000s
2015
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Sweat by Lynn Nottage explores the lives of factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania, between 2000 and 2008, focusing on their experiences with job outsourcing, labor strikes, and interpersonal conflicts. The play follows three friends—Tracey, Jessie, and Cynthia—and their generational relationships with their sons, Chris and Jason, against a backdrop of industrial decline, revealing the emotional and social impact on their community.
Gritty
Challenging
Emotional
Suspenseful
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
4,571 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Sweat by Lynn Nottage has been generally well-received for its powerful depiction of economic and racial tensions in a small American town. Critics praise its raw, empathetic storytelling and strong character development. Some, however, find its portrayal of the labor crisis somewhat heavy-handed. Overall, it remains a poignant, thought-provoking play that resonates deeply.
Who Should Read Sweat?
A reader who enjoys Sweat by Lynn Nottage is likely invested in social issues, labor struggles, and the complexities of blue-collar America. Fans of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath will appreciate the raw, empathetic exploration of working-class despair and camaraderie.
4,571 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
144
Play • Fiction
Reading, Pennsylvania • 2000s
2015
Adult
18+ years
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