The quote: “My daily life was intimately connected to these people, dependent on them, and yet, until my stay in that mine, I knew nothing about them or their world (2)”, best shows the theme that Jean Marie Laskas intends to deal with in his book. Her statement is taken from the introduction of her book Hidden America as she stands in a coal mine observing the workers and realizes how alien their work and lives are to her. This quote symbolizes how Laskas intends to use logic and emotions to break the misconception and show the trust people have towards these characters in his book. Through exposing family attitudes and facts about what really happens in the workplace, Laskas is able to dispel common misconceptions about these workers. One aspect seen in "Underworld" is how strong the familial relationship these miners have with each other. This is a trait that coal miners are not normally thought of as having, but Laskas is able to show it through their life outside the mine. As the group heads to the bar, Laskas recounts the conversation they had. “Sparky said he would take him (Kevin) to his house, where he could just go ahead and pass out” (31). Here Laskas shows how much the miners care about each other. They were willing to take their co-worker home to help him stay safe. Sparky even went so far as to say that he would buy Kevin lunch if he stayed (31). This display of generosity connects with the reader because it is like helping a friend. Even though these miners can be rough and tough with each other, they always look out for each other. It's a sense of family they build that can contribute to how well they are able to do their jobs. "GLORIA" is another Laskas chapter...... middle of the sheet ...... rce. The revelation of emotional experiences allows the reader to realize the true characteristics of these workers. This also allows connection to readers. Readers are allowed to make connections to moments in their lives similar to the experiences shared by these workers. In this respect Laskas shows who these workers really are. The variety of facts that Laskas includes creates the reality of these works. Common misconceptions are changed through the reality of workers and their environments. This leaves the reader wondering how much he or she really knows about how the jobs that make life easier work. During his talk Laskas explains how he hoped readers could be present in the experience and at the same time walk away with wonder at who these workers are and what they actually do.