Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century in Around the World in 80 Books

Feb 06, 2023 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: travel, non-fiction, sociology

This book outlines how some Americans, unable to survive financially in a country prone to recession, have contrived to adapt and survive in a more or less independent fashion by becoming itinerant laborers and members of a mutually supporting subculture. These wanderers were once employed in good jobs and housed in upscale dwellings; many suddenly found themselves downsized and unemployed, with no savings and little prospect of secure retirement. These folks decided that the answer to their pre This book outlines how some Americans, unable to survive financially in a country prone to recession, have contrived to adapt and survive in a more or less independent fashion by becoming itinerant laborers and members of a mutually supporting subculture. These wanderers were once employed in good jobs and housed in upscale dwellings; many suddenly found themselves downsized and unemployed, with no savings and little prospect of secure retirement. These folks decided that the answer to their predicament was to obtain the best vehicle they could get with the cash they had on hand and hit the road in search of the tattered remnants of the American Dream. Jessica Bruder bought herself a van and set out to live the nomad life among these people, becoming a nomad so she could write a book about it and make lots of money so she could go back to the big city and stop being a nomad.

Somewhere along the line, life became more expensive, and not just in the US of A. There was a time when a young married couple with a babe could get by on a single minimum wage. They would likely be in a cheap apartment, and a family car would be out of the question, but they could squeeze by so long as they weren't feeding addictions. I don't know of anyplace where you could accomplish this now. The wages haven't kept pace with the prices, and the little bit of money a citizen makes is subject to onerous taxes that fund government incompetence and fatten the purses of business oligarchs. No one beats this system, unless you consider that the hordes of homeless have done so by not paying rent or taxes, but these peripatetic laborers have come as close to independence as the system will allow you to get.

Bruder introduces us to many of these good people, some of whom are already semi-famous through blogs and seminars. She explains how one becomes houseless and sets about setting up a vehicle as living quarters, a task that involves considerable labor and much experimentation. Hopefully, one will end up with sleeping quarters as well as a scullery and some place to answer nature's call. A place to set up your laptop is a bonus. Once you're set up, you are free from mortgage and can set out in search of employment, like Amazon or the beet fields, or seasonal work at parks or campgrounds. Of course, one must pay for fuel and vehicle repair, and for some reason the richest country in the world lacks a health care system. And you wouldn't want to try to pull off sleeping in a vehicle north of the 49th Parallel between October and May. And let's not forget the hassles of finding a place to park .... that will probably cost you money as well.

One spot where she has me rolling my eyes is where she essentially laments the shortage of people of color among the nomadic workers. Of course a liberal could never pass up a chance at virtue signalling by commenting on race, and at first I thought she was bemoaning the fact that there weren't enough black homeless people, but it seems that Bruder is of the opinion that black people would be hassled if they were seen parking somewhere. Like maybe asked for the vehicle documents...you know...just like white people are.

I don't recall that Bruder covered this aspect of the housing predicament: how much of this crisis would be avoided if people were to have more modest lifestyles? Perhaps recession wouldn't bite so much if you weren't living in a 3000 sq ft home with a pool and 5 bathrooms? I have no problem with someone buying whatever they can afford, but if you can lose it in a recession, then you couldn't afford it.

Over all, this isn't a bad book. She has done a good job explaining the problem and introduces us to the people who are living life on the road. It actually has a certain appeal: being able to pull up stakes and head out for some other place that suits your disposition, just so long as that place is in the southern part of North America.

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Feb 27, 2021 Colleen Chi-Girl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021, bios-memoirs, self-help, faves, non-fic, california, texas, ariz-colorado-new-mex

What a memoir and eye opener about the state of many USA retirees who live as gypsies and nomads. They either do this by choice for the freedom and life on the open roads, or they do it bc of misfortune, lacks of funds or wherewithal, etc.

It is a fascinating existence and lifestyle choice. I was blown away by the strength and tenacity of so many solo women.

Pushed to read this (while on an early spring break from teaching during COVID) so I could see the Coen movie about this starring Frances M ...more

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Dec 14, 2021 Andy Plonka rated it liked it

Shelves: src

This is the only one of the group reads that I hadn't read so I thought I'd try it. I can easily understand how people could become a twenty-first century nomad considering how quickly prices have risen and many salaried people have not been graced with a matching salary increase, but the less than wealthy survived the Great Depression under similar circumstances. When I was growing up in the 60's and 70's I was taught by my parents that I couldn't buy anything on credit that I didn't already ha ...more

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Jun 22, 2021 superawesomekt marked it as dnf

My motivation to read this is DOA. It's not my favorite style (anecdotal semi-gonzo journalism) and I have other reading I want to accomplish. ...more

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