The tone of the text is serious and objective. The author seeks to establish the text's theses through factual information derived from various sources. Extensive notes and bibliographic entries bolster the theses and allow interested readers to pursue individual topics in additional materials. This transparent style allows the readers to ascertain the facts, analyze the arguments, and come to their own conclusions. The serious but accessible tone, coupled with Hochschild's obvious subject mastery, allows the book to be engaging and intelligible.