The 1936-37 General Motors strike fundamentally reshaped labor relations in the United States, marking a pivotal moment in American industrial history. Sidney Fine's seminal work meticulously documents the violent confrontation between General Motors and the United Auto Workers (UAW), analyzing the strategies and tactics employed by both sides. The book offers a detailed look at the lives of workers within the occupied plants and scrutinizes the governmental and public responses to the unrest. Fine provides insightful portraits of key figures, including Governor Frank Murphy, Alfred Sloan Jr., and Walter Reuther, and draws compelling parallels between the sit-down strikes of the 1930s and later civil rights movements.

Sidney Fine's "Sit-down" is widely regarded as the definitive historical account of the 1936-37 General Motors strike. The book is praised for its comprehensive research, drawing on an impressive variety of manuscript sources to provide a detailed and nuanced portrayal of the conflict. Readers and historians alike commend Fine's balanced analysis of the strategies employed by both labor and management, as well as his vivid characterizations of the key figures involved. The work's enduring relevance is highlighted by its insightful comparisons to later social movements, solidifying its status as a foundational text in labor history.