Soul Full of Coal Dust

A Fight for Breath and Justice in Appalachia

By: Chris Hamby

Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann

In a devastating and urgent work of investigative journalism, Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hamby uncovers the tragic resurgence of black lung disease in Appalachia, its Big Coal cover-up, and the resilient mining communities who refuse to back down.

Decades ago, a grassroots uprising forced Congress to enact long-overdue legislation designed to virtually eradicate black lung disease and provide fair compensation to coal miners stricken with the illness. Today, however, both promises remain unfulfilled. Levels of disease have surged, the old scourge has taken an aggressive new form, and ailing miners and widows have been left behind by a dizzying legal system, denied even modest payments and medical care.

In this urgent work of investigative journalism, Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hamby traces the unforgettable story of how these trends converge in the lives of two men: Gary Fox, a black lung-stricken West Virginia coal miner determined to raise his family from poverty, and John Cline, an idealistic carpenter and rural medical clinic worker who becomes a lawyer in his 50s.

Opposing them are the lawyers at the coal industry’s go-to law firm; well-credentialed doctors who often weigh in for the defense, including an elite unit Johns Hopkins; and Gary’s former employer, Massey Energy, a regional powerhouse run by a cantankerous CEO often portrayed in the media as a dark lord of the coalfields. On the line in Gary and John’s longshot legal battle are fundamental principles of fairness and justice, with consequences for miners and their loved ones throughout the nation. Taking listeners inside courtrooms, hospitals, homes tucked in Appalachian hollows, and dusty mine tunnels, Hamby exposes how coal companies have not only continually flouted a law meant to protect miners from deadly amounts of dust but also enlisted well-credentialed doctors and lawyers to help systematically deny much-needed benefits to miners. The result is a legal and medical thriller that brilliantly illuminates how a band of laborers — aided by a small group of lawyers, doctors, and lay advocates, often working out of their homes or in rural clinics and tiny offices – challenged one of the world's most powerful forces, Big Coal, and won.

“Harrowing and cinematic,” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), Soul Full of Coal Dust is a necessary and timely book about injustice and resistance.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Chris Hamby (P)2020 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"A devastating and essential indictment of corruption in coal country." (Laurence Leamer, author of The Price of Justice)

"An important story told with care and eloquence, Soul Full of Coal Dust will have you rooting for its underdog heroes and shaking your head - and maybe even your fist - at the coal barons and their hired guns who for decades manipulated a rigged system to deprive injured miners of simple justice." (Dan Fagin, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Toms River)

"There are two kinds of cruelty. One you see on a face, and in the actions of a particular person. The other you can't see unless, like Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Chris Hamby, you uncover a hidden system - in this case of corrupt West Virginia mine company officials, paid-off lawyers, and lying doctors who deny ill miners and widows recompense for unnecessary suffering and death from black lung. It's a riveting David and Goliath story, close up and personal, and illuminating the heroic tenacity it took two men to win a hugely important fight." (Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American)

Workers rights

Much needed expose on worrisome practices that harm our energy workers. Great research and reporting.

A perfect blend of informational and interesting

The story of Gary Fox and John Cline is an incredible American story of tragedy and triumph. I strongly believe that this book should be required reading for every law school student, medical student, and political science student. The story is beautifully written and Gary Tiedman is a perfect narrator. Even if it does not seem like these things would especially interest you I think this book is captivating.

A must read for West Virginians

Hamby is an excellent story teller and advocates. He underplays his own significant part in winning the fight for justice for miners, but does an excellent job of telling the story of the other heros involved.

5000 stars!

This book was interesting, infuriating, heartbreaking and vindicating. An amazing book about my home state and the atrocious way we are abused by the systems that supposedly help us. I’ve never been a ‘friend of coal’ and they’re all trash and destroying our home and people. A wonderful book!

Must read book, especially for those from Appalachia

This story needed to be told and a lot of important change was driven by the researching of this story.