Nonfiction

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

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  • Create Date：2021-04-28 00:30:58
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jessica Bruder
  • ISBN：0393356310
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Summary

The inspiration for Chloé Zhao's 2020 Golden Lion award-winning film starring Frances McDormand。

From the beet fields of North Dakota to the campgrounds of California to Amazon’s CamperForce program in Texas， employers have discovered a new， low-cost labor pool， made up largely of transient older adults。 These invisible casualties of the Great Recession have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in RVs and modified vans， forming a growing community of nomads。

Nomadland tells a revelatory tale of the dark underbelly of the American economy—one which foreshadows the precarious future that may await many more of us。 At the same time， it celebrates the exceptional resilience and creativity of these Americans who have given up ordinary rootedness to survive， but have not given up hope。

"People who thought the 2008 financial collapse was over a long time ago need to meet the people Jessica Bruder got to know in this scorching， beautifully written， vivid， disturbing （and occasionally wryly funny） book。" —Rebecca Solnit

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Reviews

Laura Veitch ，

Who knew？ Inspired only by the Oscar hype I started this thinking it was fiction lol。 It's quite the eye opener！ Who knew？ Inspired only by the Oscar hype I started this thinking it was fiction lol。 It's quite the eye opener！ 。。。more

Emma ，

Opened a world for me I was only slightly aware of。 （An American friend of mine 10 years ago thought her future would be in an RV）。 The portrayal of the people is gripping。 The author gives the back stories of many former middle-class people， who held solid jobs for decades， but who met one setback （sudden unemployment） or another （2008 housing crisis） and are often seniors without pensions。 They call themselves houseless and not homeless， but they know that for the law they are just that: homel Opened a world for me I was only slightly aware of。 （An American friend of mine 10 years ago thought her future would be in an RV）。 The portrayal of the people is gripping。 The author gives the back stories of many former middle-class people， who held solid jobs for decades， but who met one setback （sudden unemployment） or another （2008 housing crisis） and are often seniors without pensions。 They call themselves houseless and not homeless， but they know that for the law they are just that: homeless。 Proud as they are of their freedom and anti-consumer lifestyle， many have no prospects， but working in low paid seasonal jobs across the states， until their bodies give out。 This is not vacation， this is it。 Maybe in the middle the book is a little bit slow， with many descriptions of camper nomad gatherings， but when we pick up Linda May's trail again， a line becomes clear and an arc。 And with gripping insights in western society that outlaws the poor but not poverty。 I really hope Linda May got her earthship。 What a cliffhanger。 。。。more

Jan ，

This is a well written， engaging and devastating picture of our america。 I salute the courage and stamina of the people who we meet in these pages， and have a whole other respect for those who are living the life but are unseen， or are seen but despised。

Donna McElveen ，

I love sociological stories。 This was one of the best。 It made me think about so many things， social and economic systems， human resilience， community， ethics， and so much more I may read this again at some point as I believe I’ve crossed paths with a few nomads during my travels。

David Anderson ，

Great read！

Julia Starnes ，

Stories of the "house-less"。 A look at Americans living on the road after each faces changes in their life。 This is not the expensive on the road RV living。 Could happen to anyone。 Stories of the "house-less"。 A look at Americans living on the road after each faces changes in their life。 This is not the expensive on the road RV living。 Could happen to anyone。 。。。more

Lucille ，

3。5I am happy I read this and learned so much about Linda and her nomadic friends。 It is an important part of American life that deserves visibility。 However， I felt the writing style was slightly too journalistic and it looked more like a long article than a non-fiction book。

Micol Benimeo ，

What happens when the American Dream falls apart？ When you do everything right （school-job-everything society wants you to do） and you end up broke？In this book Jessica Bruden explores the Vandwellers/Workhampers phenomenon， a new form of nomadism which involves many people in the US， especially retired people who can’t afford to be retired。‘In the widening gap between credits and debits hangs a question: What parts of this life are you willing to give up， so you can keep on living？ Most who fac What happens when the American Dream falls apart？ When you do everything right （school-job-everything society wants you to do） and you end up broke？In this book Jessica Bruden explores the Vandwellers/Workhampers phenomenon， a new form of nomadism which involves many people in the US， especially retired people who can’t afford to be retired。‘In the widening gap between credits and debits hangs a question: What parts of this life are you willing to give up， so you can keep on living？ Most who face this dilemma will not end up dwelling in vehicles。 Those who do are analogous to what biologists call an “indicator species”—sensitive organisms with the capacity to signal much larger shifts in an ecosystem。 Like the nomads， millions of Americans are being forced to change their lives， even if the transformations are less outwardly radical。 There are many ways to parse the challenge of survival。 This month， will you skip meals？ Go to the ER instead of your doctor？ Postpone the credit card bills， hoping they won’t go to collections？ Put off paying electric and gas charges， hoping the light and heat will stay on？ Let the interest accumulate on student and car loans， hoping someday you’ll find a way to catch up？ These indignities underscore a larger question: When do impossible choices start to tear people—a society—apart？’The thing I liked most about the book it is that it doesn’t indulge in pietism but it doesn’t hide the difficulties of the nomadic life。 The writer doesn’t mythologize the Vandwellers and at the same way she doesn’t pity them。 She tries to understand， she takes time to understand （her research took three years）， she is empathic but not too emotional。 ‘I’m not that cynical。 While it’s human nature to put on a good face in turbulent times—and to present that face to strangers—something else was also happening among the nomads。 The truth as I see it is that people can both struggle and remain upbeat simultaneously， through even the most soul-testing of challenges。 This doesn’t mean they’re in denial。 Rather， it testifies to the remarkable ability of humankind to adapt， to seek meaning and kinship when confronted with adversity。’ 。。。more

Nicole S ，

Quick easy read。Really does highlight how this situation could attract or happen to plenty of people。 Financial insecurity is a worrying of many Americans， and it is refreshing to hear a new take on how to handle it。 I wish this lifestyle gave more financial security to the tribe in this book。 Makes you think twice about our consumerism， credit issues， and widening income gaps。 I really do not understand how we continue to not increase minimal wage， it has not changed since the 80s。

Dorothy Goodwin ，

Nomad landA great message for all readers。 A story about real people and their struggles to exist in a wealthy， greedy society。 I will definitely watch the movie。

Dave Allen ，

I was really interested to read this after watching the movie last month。 Though I enjoyed the movie， I felt it wasn't frank enough about the conditions （economic and otherwise） that led these nomads/van-dwellers to pursue itinerant lives。 The book is a good counterbalance， and definitely delivers frank and at times devastating messages about American society and the post-2008 recession economy， but it's also somewhat sunny and hopeful on a human level - you end up rooting for these nomads and b I was really interested to read this after watching the movie last month。 Though I enjoyed the movie， I felt it wasn't frank enough about the conditions （economic and otherwise） that led these nomads/van-dwellers to pursue itinerant lives。 The book is a good counterbalance， and definitely delivers frank and at times devastating messages about American society and the post-2008 recession economy， but it's also somewhat sunny and hopeful on a human level - you end up rooting for these nomads and believing （somewhat） in their dreams and their overall optimism。 It gives a strong sense of real lives being， including the scrambling yet practical ingenuity that van dwellers employ， as well as of the space， landscape and emptiness of the American West。 It has also has some of that A。J。 Jacobs-style， experiment-on-your-own life participant-observer style， which makes for an interesting blend sociological， personal and more purely journalistic approaches。 Recommended in its own right and for fans， critics or both of the movie （a worthy Best Picture and Best Director winner！）。 。。。more

Tatiana Shorokhova ，

Вся красота этой книги в том， что в ней фигурируют настоящие люди。 В том числе и журналистка， которая отправляется колесить по Америке в трейлере， невзирая на все невзгоды。 Здесь всё по-настоящему: жара， холод， отсутствие воды， голод， презрительное отношение окружающих。 Пожилые американцы， которым платят всего 400-500 долларов пенсии， не могут позволить себе выплачивать кредиты за дома и выходят из системы， становятся современными кочевниками。 Им непросто， потому что зарабатывать на жизнь приход Вся красота этой книги в том， что в ней фигурируют настоящие люди。 В том числе и журналистка， которая отправляется колесить по Америке в трейлере， невзирая на все невзгоды。 Здесь всё по-настоящему: жара， холод， отсутствие воды， голод， презрительное отношение окружающих。 Пожилые американцы， которым платят всего 400-500 долларов пенсии， не могут позволить себе выплачивать кредиты за дома и выходят из системы， становятся современными кочевниками。 Им непросто， потому что зарабатывать на жизнь приходится тяжелым и неблагодарным трудом， который порой может и покалечить。 Здесь дружат с животными и находят новые семьи в совершенно незнакомых людях。 Здесь собираются на свои "Бёрнинг мэны" и обмениваются опытом。 Покупают дешевые генераторы。 Ставят солнечные батареи， чтобы их всегда можно было скрыть。 Привыкают ночевать в незнакомой местности。 И экономят， экономят， экономят。。。Осталось ужасно неприятное ощущение после просмотра фильма Хлои Чжао， и， как оказалось， не зря。 Романтизация образа жизни этих людей возможно кого-то зацепила， но теперь мы будем гораздо дольше ждать очередного и более честного фильма， который исследует проблему кризиса среднего класса в Америке。 。。。more

Joe ，

Saw the movie then read the book。。。 books better。 A very interesting deep dive into a way of life that most of us aren’t even aware of but it’s real and it’s happening now。

Gail Anderson ，

This is an insightful look at life on the margins for many Americans who played by the rules and got left out of the Dream。

Nanci ，

Eye openingI’ve not yet seen the film that was adapted from this book， but the books are always better anyhow， right？ This was a fascinating。 It’s also a rather heartbreaking look into what seems to be truanting into a pretty common thing in the US。

Ruth ，

I enjoyed this book。 It was very interesting to read about some of the many people， most who have been forced by financial circumstances to live in vans， RV's， and other vehicles。 Many of them do seasonal work to earn enough money to survive， most of it very physical， including Amazon， Sept to Dec， harvesting beets， working on Christmas tree farms， being campground hosts， etc。 Online sites help them connect with each other。 The author spent at least 3 years researching this story， so it is much I enjoyed this book。 It was very interesting to read about some of the many people， most who have been forced by financial circumstances to live in vans， RV's， and other vehicles。 Many of them do seasonal work to earn enough money to survive， most of it very physical， including Amazon， Sept to Dec， harvesting beets， working on Christmas tree farms， being campground hosts， etc。 Online sites help them connect with each other。 The author spent at least 3 years researching this story， so it is much more in-depth than many accounts you can read on this subject。 （according to her :-） 。。。more

Kirsten Cutler ，

I just finished reading this astounding story of a new group of Americans who roam our country in diverse types of RVs， converted vans， retired school buses， even a Prius， picking up seasonal work to earn gas money and purchase essential supplies， and developing an extensive network of online contacts and support systems， and forging new friendships in shared camping spots。 Primarily in their fifties to eighties， these people jettisoned from the largely diminished Middle Class now maintain camp I just finished reading this astounding story of a new group of Americans who roam our country in diverse types of RVs， converted vans， retired school buses， even a Prius， picking up seasonal work to earn gas money and purchase essential supplies， and developing an extensive network of online contacts and support systems， and forging new friendships in shared camping spots。 Primarily in their fifties to eighties， these people jettisoned from the largely diminished Middle Class now maintain campgrounds by cleaning toilets， shoveling out firepits， and dealing with obstreperous campers， work for Amazon， walking easily fifteen or more miles on concrete floors while stowing， or retrieving products for shipping to the many consumers who power this mighty corporation or pick fruits and vegetables。 The author does not present this story as a sad story。 Instead， she introduces her readers to a truly amazing group of people who are creating a functioning lifestyle from the horrible consequences of greedy uncaring Capitalism。 。。。more

Dan Roe ，

Great read。 Actually living the lifestyle gave a good perspective。 Many observations when starting out were the same I had made。 So relatable。

Jan Morrison ，

A strangely hopeful yet dystopian tale。 Once begun it was impossible to put down。

Martha Samsell ，

Book about women on the road in an RV from one destination to the next。

Grace Lillian ，

I liked how she structured this book， following one person throughout the book while also exploring the larger cultural and economic factors。 Definitely sad and thought-provoking。

Mary Clemons ，

This book was such a surprising story。 My husband and I had always wanted to try traveling across the U。S。 after we retired， working at the State Parks that we wanted to visit， in exchange for room and board and a living stipend。 We are no ！longer going to consider this。 What an eye opening book。

Grace Hoffmann ，

Important and amazing book。 For once， I saw the movie first， and it does the book justice。 Important for everyone to think about how Amazon has destroyed small shops， and how we all buy all kinds of crap from China from them， which will all end up in a landfill， as Linda May says， and it's all a huge vicious cycle。 Great writing in this book and admirable dedication to getting the story right by the author， who lived in a van herself to do research。 Definitely depressing on some levels， but so m Important and amazing book。 For once， I saw the movie first， and it does the book justice。 Important for everyone to think about how Amazon has destroyed small shops， and how we all buy all kinds of crap from China from them， which will all end up in a landfill， as Linda May says， and it's all a huge vicious cycle。 Great writing in this book and admirable dedication to getting the story right by the author， who lived in a van herself to do research。 Definitely depressing on some levels， but so much admiration for the people who have absorbed some hard knocks and keep going， celebrating their independence and their individuality， while building a kind of community。 。。。more

Jinjer ，

Why this book？ Because I just watched the movie starring Frances McDormand and I'm about ready to sell everything and buy me an RV and take off。 Except that I have obligations and zero courage。 Why this book？ Because I just watched the movie starring Frances McDormand and I'm about ready to sell everything and buy me an RV and take off。 Except that I have obligations and zero courage。 。。。more

C ，

More of a 3。5 review。 It's sad， shocking and eye opening。 Author met many interesting people and I wished I got more than a surface knowledge of them。 More of a 3。5 review。 It's sad， shocking and eye opening。 Author met many interesting people and I wished I got more than a surface knowledge of them。 。。。more

Frances Stone ，

I was reading my storyWhen I first started reading I felt like I was reading about me and my husband。 Then as I read I began to see the scope of the book。 Five years ago my husband had a stroke。 That ended our wandering。 I am somewhat disabled because of my feet， so I traded in our new fancy pickup and cut our expenses to the bone。 The fifth-wheel we lived in was paid for。 But he lost his job and。。。。。。。Excellent read 。 Thank you for writing it。 Gate-guarding at a Texas oilfield was one job she m I was reading my storyWhen I first started reading I felt like I was reading about me and my husband。 Then as I read I began to see the scope of the book。 Five years ago my husband had a stroke。 That ended our wandering。 I am somewhat disabled because of my feet， so I traded in our new fancy pickup and cut our expenses to the bone。 The fifth-wheel we lived in was paid for。 But he lost his job and。。。。。。。Excellent read 。 Thank you for writing it。 Gate-guarding at a Texas oilfield was one job she missed。 Not as bad a gig as Amazon。 But 24-7 with no time off。 Frances 。。。more

Ann Lozier ，

This book was a sobering look at a growing segment of poor in America and their struggles to survive， especially in the midst of corporate greed。 Amazon may not have created the problem， but they are using it for their own benefit， which is what corporations do。 And， there is an expectation in this country that we don’t help each other， we expect everyone to work hard and succeed。 If you don’t succeed it’s your own fault。 It’s a very sobering view especially since I know that one bad illness， on This book was a sobering look at a growing segment of poor in America and their struggles to survive， especially in the midst of corporate greed。 Amazon may not have created the problem， but they are using it for their own benefit， which is what corporations do。 And， there is an expectation in this country that we don’t help each other， we expect everyone to work hard and succeed。 If you don’t succeed it’s your own fault。 It’s a very sobering view especially since I know that one bad illness， one bad accident could put in that life。 。。。more

Tfalcone ，

Definitely made me think and upset about the state of affairs in our country。 It was also definitely a condemnation of large companies and their treatment of seasonal workers and the pittance our government/national park service pays their workers。

Ross Bonaime ，

In the fascinating "Nomadland，" Jessica Bruder explores the story of people who have taken to campers， RVs， vans， etc。， as a way to live free of the financial institutions that have only caused them pain， which also allows them to see the country often in the latter years of their lives。 While Bruder is reporting on these people， covering the hardships and joys of this type of living， their minimum wage jobs at places like Amazon that keep gas in their tanks， and the relationships that sprout up In the fascinating "Nomadland，" Jessica Bruder explores the story of people who have taken to campers， RVs， vans， etc。， as a way to live free of the financial institutions that have only caused them pain， which also allows them to see the country often in the latter years of their lives。 While Bruder is reporting on these people， covering the hardships and joys of this type of living， their minimum wage jobs at places like Amazon that keep gas in their tanks， and the relationships that sprout up， Bruder does so in a way that makes us realize she truly cares about the people she is writing about。 Bruder isn't just covering these people and their relationships， she becomes one of them and forges these friendships on her own as well。Bruder covers an entire subculture that I was unfamiliar with， taking the reader on the road with these modern-day nomads。 Yet in Bruder's writing， I not only felt sorry that the country had failed these people as bad as it has， but I also felt like this would be a truly incredible way to live， even with its many downsides。 Bruder isn't looking down on these people or pitying them， she's showing the reader how this way of life is simply a different way of achieving a different kind of American Dream。 。。。more

karen blaszyk ，

FASCINATINGI never knew what I never knew！ Having recently retired from my job as a Medical Sonographer， the RV life sounded like a great way to finish the last chapters in my story。 Not so sure now， that I have the resilience to do what these brave hearts have undertaken。 Be careful reading this wonderfully informative book ， or like myself you might fall down the street abbot hole of curiosity。 I listened to music noted in some of the chapters， followed blogs mentioned， and took many a twist a FASCINATINGI never knew what I never knew！ Having recently retired from my job as a Medical Sonographer， the RV life sounded like a great way to finish the last chapters in my story。 Not so sure now， that I have the resilience to do what these brave hearts have undertaken。 Be careful reading this wonderfully informative book ， or like myself you might fall down the street abbot hole of curiosity。 I listened to music noted in some of the chapters， followed blogs mentioned， and took many a twist and turns learning about the history。。。 What a ride！ I find myself drawn to finding out what happed with Linda May and the Earthship！ 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0