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120th out of 208 books
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140 voters
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You Want Fries with That?: A White-Collar Burnout Experiences Life at Minimum Wage
The American Dream used to include a white picket fence, 2.2 kids, and a dog. In today's frantic world, it's . . . well, let's be honest-it's quite different. But what would happen if you did have the nerve to quit your white-collar job? Prioleau Alexander can tell you:He walked away from a lucrative career as an advertising executive, seeking a life +like that dude on Kun...more
Hardcover, 250 pages
Published
April 10th 2008
by Arcade Publishing
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Things I learned as I laughed reading this book:
1. It's harder than you think to be hired by the big box stores; Wal-Mart, K-Mart etc. That my retirement dream of being a Wal-Mart greeter may not be the best idea.
2. Always tip the Pizza guy at least $5.00 and make sure he can see the house numbers.
3. ERs are for emergencies. Get reassurance from hubby or dog. But recognize a real emergency. (I thought I knew this, but it’s good to be reminded)
4. Ne...more
1. It's harder than you think to be hired by the big box stores; Wal-Mart, K-Mart etc. That my retirement dream of being a Wal-Mart greeter may not be the best idea.
2. Always tip the Pizza guy at least $5.00 and make sure he can see the house numbers.
3. ERs are for emergencies. Get reassurance from hubby or dog. But recognize a real emergency. (I thought I knew this, but it’s good to be reminded)
4. Ne...more
Like many others before him, burnt-out white-collar worker Prioleau Alexander decided to drop out of the rat-race for a while and see what life was like as a blue-collar worker.
What he found in a variety of jobs surprised and startled him - and also makes for amusing, sobering and thought-provoking reading in his account 'You Want Fries With That?'
At times, Alexander tries too hard to be funny and his style becomes clumsy and inept. Fortunately, though, most of the time he st...more
What he found in a variety of jobs surprised and startled him - and also makes for amusing, sobering and thought-provoking reading in his account 'You Want Fries With That?'
At times, Alexander tries too hard to be funny and his style becomes clumsy and inept. Fortunately, though, most of the time he st...more
Fun, light-hearted read about 5 minimum wage jobs. Worth an afternoon with some LOL moments. He's in awe of the pizza delivery guys, made crazy by corporate S.O.P.s and ice cream customers, lazy as a cowboy, and respectful of those working minimum wage jobs.
He suggests that the pizza business is set up to rip off the front line delivery guys, so we should tip them a minimum of $5. This is fine, but I'd rather that the entire American employment structure was overhauled. No need t...more
He suggests that the pizza business is set up to rip off the front line delivery guys, so we should tip them a minimum of $5. This is fine, but I'd rather that the entire American employment structure was overhauled. No need t...more
Cori
rated it
What an excellent book. The introductory chapter did a terrible job of selling the idea, but once you dive in to the ins and outs of pizza delivery the story becomes more enjoyable. I cannot decide which section I liked better between the ice cream jerk or the ER tech, because parts in both sections had me laughing out loud. However, I do not think that the ER Tech or Boss Hog jobs actually counted because he didn't actually work. In both of those sections he just seemed to be hanging around...more
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This is in the same vein as Morgan Spurlock’s 30 Days show, only not as serious. In fact, Mr. Alexander is pretty funny. He quits his great paying job as a creative director for an ad agency (i think that’s what it was) because it’s a job filled with ass kissing and bullshit, and he was sick of it. So he decides to work some shitty minimum wage jobs and write a book about it.
Some of the jobs he tries out are Pizza Dude, Burger Joint Dude, Construction Dude, ER tech Dude, Ice cream Sh...more
Some of the jobs he tries out are Pizza Dude, Burger Joint Dude, Construction Dude, ER tech Dude, Ice cream Sh...more
Another author far less clever than he thinks he is - sigh.
The first couple of essays, on delivering pizza and scooping ice cream, held some promise (drug references to show he's a "kewl conservative" aside); the rest were either un-followable or mediocre. Two other, more effective books covering the same premise: Selling Ben Cheever by Ben Cheever, and My Secret Life on the McJob by Jerry Newman.
The first couple of essays, on delivering pizza and scooping ice cream, held some promise (drug references to show he's a "kewl conservative" aside); the rest were either un-followable or mediocre. Two other, more effective books covering the same premise: Selling Ben Cheever by Ben Cheever, and My Secret Life on the McJob by Jerry Newman.
Prioleau Alexander quits his white-collar job as an ad exec and takes us on his journey through some blue-collar jobs including pizza delivery guy, ice cream scooper and fast food worker, and a couple of others.
I saw the author on BookTV on CSPAN after having already bought the book. After seeing his Q&A, I have to admit that I was a little bit put off by his obnoxious, forced humor and constant, and I mean non-stop, plugs to purchase copies (yes, plural) of his book.
I e...more
I saw the author on BookTV on CSPAN after having already bought the book. After seeing his Q&A, I have to admit that I was a little bit put off by his obnoxious, forced humor and constant, and I mean non-stop, plugs to purchase copies (yes, plural) of his book.
I e...more
This is one of funniest books I have read and that it was written by a boy I grew up with in Cmade it a must-read. Prioleau, you've come a long way baby!! I admire your courage for quitting the corporate grind to go undercover as a blue collar - Counting my blessings to be self employed, EVERY DAY!
Fascinating description of the author's forays into live as a minimum wage employee. At times comic, often tragic, it is definitely an eye opener. I will never again fail to tip a pizza delivery person or ask for more than one ice cream sample!
What the author says isn't that earth-shattering, but the way he writes is laugh out loud hilarious. It was a really quick, entertaining read.
Though he attempts to take it back in the end, this book was a non-stop diatribe on how stupid people working minimum-wage jobs are and how all those jobs are beneath him. His commentary on the customers, however, was pretty astute and funny at times.
karly
marked it as to-read
hope to read this book soon :)
Nearly 60% of this book is not worth one's time, especially when the author tries too hard to be funny. The only reason I rate this book so highly, however, is that the rest of the book is, indeed actually very funny, entertaining, and even enlightening. Whether he is a pizza delivery guy, an ice cream scooper, or a dude ranch trail driver (or several other things), the author succeeds in describing the absurd as well as the sublime of any typical minimum-wage job.
My husband and I found this book on CSPAN book TV--a wonderful way to learn about new books from the authors themselves. Alexander was so funny, smart, and engaging that we ordered the book. Fabulous! After I pulled the book out of the wrapping it was mailed in, I opened it to skim through a few pages and ended up reading the whole thing. Funny, insightful, and engaging look at working class America. Most entertaining non-fiction I've read in years.
The author quits his regular job to work at minimum wage jobs such as pizza delivery guy, burger jockey, ice cream scooper, and other sundry jobs. I thought this was similar to Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, only the author quit his white-collar job to immerse himself in the minimum wage quagmire. Intersting although it did get a little old after a while and I'm not sure I totally liked his attitude and politics--but then that's just me.
Amusing and insightful.
I waffled back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I finally ended up at 4 stars because while not typically laugh-out-loud funny, it was humorous enough, and it kept me entertained enough to read through quickly.
The author works several low-paying skilled jobs after burning out of his white collar job. He learns that he had it pretty good; it sucks being poor. No surprise there, but the ride to that endgame was pretty fun.
The author works several low-paying skilled jobs after burning out of his white collar job. He learns that he had it pretty good; it sucks being poor. No surprise there, but the ride to that endgame was pretty fun.
If you read this book expecting any deep insights you will be disappointed. But if you read it expecting it to be hilarious you will be happy.
My favorite part was when he worked at the ice cream shop, the way he characterized the customers was SO funny!! It was a little strange to me that he had apparently never worked in any of those fast food type of jobs - most people I know did at least one of those during high school.
My favorite part was when he worked at the ice cream shop, the way he characterized the customers was SO funny!! It was a little strange to me that he had apparently never worked in any of those fast food type of jobs - most people I know did at least one of those during high school.
After Prioleau Alexander walks away from his high dollar, white-collar job he takes a variety of minimum-wage jobs with hilarious results.
Very whiney. At least books like Nickel and Dimed had a point, rather than "I'm tired of my marketing job." Nonetheless, some of the stories were interesting, particularly the one on being an ER tech.
I LITERALLY laughed out loud as I read this book. It's a refreshing, quick read that's worth a Saturday afternoon of self reflection. It's not going to transform your life; but, it will certainly help you to take a breath from the stresses of your life decisions and gain a little perspective. Lighten up and enjoy!
Pretty good. Hard to keep focused on this book for me, but it gave me a fresh and different perspective on the jobs others do that we so often take for granted.
Not that this wasn't a good book....I just kinda felt disloyal, in a way, to "Nickel and Dimed in America..." This book seemed exactly the same, just more out to get a laugh. I really enjoyed the documentary sense of "Nickel and Dimed".
But that's just me....
But that's just me....
Amazing book! Great read and overwhelmingly eye-opening. Anyone in today's professional world, and not only, should read it.
This book is the anti "How Starbucks Changed My Life." He quits his white collar advertising job to work in the real world and discovers that it's really hard. And that it really doesn't pay well. It was a quick, funny read.
This is a fantastic easy read of a book. Prioleau is one that continues to amaze with his musings on the unemployed life and the employed life for that matter. Just remember as you read this is non-fiction...
You'll never give the pizza guy a bad tip again.
This is a silly, ridiculous read. Good bathroom book.
Prioleau Alexander has an excellent sense of humor which is delightfully present throughtout the book. I did find it somewhat repetitive at times. I have always wondered what it would be like to cut back and do with less...this was an interesting experiment, although, not sure I'd be willing to put my family (or myself) through that much stress!! (Bills never stop coming to my house either!)
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