Grant Allen 
Biographies of Working Men [PDF ebook] 

In an era where "knowledge workers" with often-nebulous skill sets have come to make up a significant portion of the workforce, it can be refreshing to read about the more clearly defined trades of past eras. This engaging collection of brief biographies from Canadian author Grant Allen explores a number of skilled trades such as stonemason, painter, and shoemaker, as well as the day-to-day lives of the men who filled these roles.