Nonfiction

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

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  • Create Date：2021-06-28 09:52:54
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • 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

❀ Susan G ，

Nomadland is shocking。 Can you imagine your parents， unable to afford their home， leaving in a van or a beat up RV？ travelling across states to work temporary jobs at Amazon （as part of Camperforce）？ picking sugar beats？ maintaining campgrounds for small payments and a place to park？This author travelled in her own "Van Halen" and followed individuals， many who had middle class jobs （accountants， store managers， a university professor） who had hit on bad times （divorce， job loss） and started liv Nomadland is shocking。 Can you imagine your parents， unable to afford their home， leaving in a van or a beat up RV？ travelling across states to work temporary jobs at Amazon （as part of Camperforce）？ picking sugar beats？ maintaining campgrounds for small payments and a place to park？This author travelled in her own "Van Halen" and followed individuals， many who had middle class jobs （accountants， store managers， a university professor） who had hit on bad times （divorce， job loss） and started living from their vehicles。 She wrote a lot about Linda May who had lived with her family before heading out in the world in her late 60s with a goal of building an earthship when she could buy land。 Three generations of her family ended up living in a combination of trailers， an old RV and tents。I am already not a keen Amazon shopper but this reinforces the detriments of ordering more stuff。 I am shocked to have learned that this is more common than I would have imagined。 Can you imagine living in a Prius？ or using a 5L pail as a toilet？What happens as these seniors age？ become ill？ Can no longer travel or manage living in a vehicle？ Many of them shared that they had no plan。。。 The book left me wanting to know what happens next。。。 there is also a movie and this article gives some insight into Linda May's next adventures: https://www。esquire。com/entertainment。。。 。。。more

Maria ，

Abandoned at 61% on audiobook。 Interesting at times but way too much details to keep me listening when I have other books I want to get to soon。

Shwetha ，

It's a big revelation about alternate lifestyles and the bigger divide in the economy that's pushing ppl to ways never imagined before。 It's a big revelation about alternate lifestyles and the bigger divide in the economy that's pushing ppl to ways never imagined before。 。。。more

Dkilwein ，

Story about how the elderly are houseless and trying to survive by living in cars， vans or RVs。 Really makes you second think about supporting Amazon when you realize how this aging workforce is treated。 FYI， Bezos is the founder and CEO[a] of the multi-national technology company Amazon。 With a net worth of more than $200 billion as of June 2021。 He is one of the richest men in the world， and he treats his employees terribly。 I guess that’s Capitalism。。。。I believe in Karma and treating people t Story about how the elderly are houseless and trying to survive by living in cars， vans or RVs。 Really makes you second think about supporting Amazon when you realize how this aging workforce is treated。 FYI， Bezos is the founder and CEO[a] of the multi-national technology company Amazon。 With a net worth of more than $200 billion as of June 2021。 He is one of the richest men in the world， and he treats his employees terribly。 I guess that’s Capitalism。。。。I believe in Karma and treating people the way you would like to be treated。 。。。more

Sandy Brusin ，

Jessica Bruder set out to report on a group of people invisible to most Americans。 In the process， she exposed the underbelly of capitalism through her reporting of the work experiences of these people for Amazon。 It's a monster。 Broder made me feel enormously grateful and privileged。 The American nomads she profiles worked hard but during the great recession they lost everything: their jobs， their homes， the "American Dream。" Bruder highlights how resilient and resourceful people can be in the Jessica Bruder set out to report on a group of people invisible to most Americans。 In the process， she exposed the underbelly of capitalism through her reporting of the work experiences of these people for Amazon。 It's a monster。 Broder made me feel enormously grateful and privileged。 The American nomads she profiles worked hard but during the great recession they lost everything: their jobs， their homes， the "American Dream。" Bruder highlights how resilient and resourceful people can be in the face of tremendous loss， how they create bonds of friendship and family to help sustain themselves。 For me， the most significant thing she does is get me to think about what freedom really is and how elusive it is。 。。。more

Jamie ，

Good overview of the people who live on the road。 The seasonal work they taken on is illuminating。 Amazon camper Force sounds like a nightmare。 It makes me rethink my Amazon dependence。

Brenda ，

A really great piece of journalism following a handful of mostly 60+ Americans who have been forced by societal circumstances to reimagine their lives。 They live in vans and campers and pick up seasonal work。 If you’ve wondered about Amazon warehouse working conditions， this is eye-opening。 It’s a very American story; a precarious existence that represents both freedom and a massive failure of capitalism。 It’s a warning for us in other Western countries to maintain and bolster the social safety A really great piece of journalism following a handful of mostly 60+ Americans who have been forced by societal circumstances to reimagine their lives。 They live in vans and campers and pick up seasonal work。 If you’ve wondered about Amazon warehouse working conditions， this is eye-opening。 It’s a very American story; a precarious existence that represents both freedom and a massive failure of capitalism。 It’s a warning for us in other Western countries to maintain and bolster the social safety net for older people。 。。。more

Bridget Raye ，

*** 4。5 Stars *** I really enjoyed this book！ It asked a lot of questions about poverty， aging， and what happened to those middle class Americans hardest hit by the financial collapse。 I prefer fiction over non-fiction because I feel like non-fiction opens storylines it doesn’t close。 I want to know more about the people that left the town in Nevada and I wished that the conclusion focused on others beside Linda。 Overall， it was a fascinating book and exploration of being “houseless”。 I definite *** 4。5 Stars *** I really enjoyed this book！ It asked a lot of questions about poverty， aging， and what happened to those middle class Americans hardest hit by the financial collapse。 I prefer fiction over non-fiction because I feel like non-fiction opens storylines it doesn’t close。 I want to know more about the people that left the town in Nevada and I wished that the conclusion focused on others beside Linda。 Overall， it was a fascinating book and exploration of being “houseless”。 I definitely recommend this book！ 。。。more

Mikayla Gilchrist ，

2。5 stars: as someone who lives in a camper by choice， it is interesting to see the lives of others who are forced to。 however I hated the writing style and the way she would get totally sidetracked over one little point。 I'm thinking the movie will be better 2。5 stars: as someone who lives in a camper by choice， it is interesting to see the lives of others who are forced to。 however I hated the writing style and the way she would get totally sidetracked over one little point。 I'm thinking the movie will be better 。。。more

Margo Littell ，

Loved this in-depth， insider's view of this subculture。 Left me wanting to learn more about the seasonal work of Amazon warehouses and campgrounds。 Can't wait to watch the movie。 Loved this in-depth， insider's view of this subculture。 Left me wanting to learn more about the seasonal work of Amazon warehouses and campgrounds。 Can't wait to watch the movie。 。。。more

FanZ ，

I love this book。 America is the sole superpower of the world。 Yet， over the last thirty years， the middle class in America is dwindling。 Many Americans struggle to make ends meet。 Willingly or unwillingly， some desperate ones had to adopt a living on the road and become modern-day nomads。 Their lives are projections of modernization。 Yes， some become ever more affluent。 We have gadgets that we cannot imagine merely twenty years ago。 The world becomes flatter， and the purchasing power of dollars I love this book。 America is the sole superpower of the world。 Yet， over the last thirty years， the middle class in America is dwindling。 Many Americans struggle to make ends meet。 Willingly or unwillingly， some desperate ones had to adopt a living on the road and become modern-day nomads。 Their lives are projections of modernization。 Yes， some become ever more affluent。 We have gadgets that we cannot imagine merely twenty years ago。 The world becomes flatter， and the purchasing power of dollars， even in the days of inflation， remains strong thanks to globalization。 But under the shadow， the invisible is suffering。 When you hear a story like Linda's， it breaks your heart。 The United States is for Americans。 In an ideal world， all Americans shall be able to make an honest living， provided that they are capable and willing to work。 Our nation needs to have a safety net for those who cannot so that they do not fall into the abysmal。 It is idealistic， I know。 But our nation is E pluribus unum。 We are one， too。 Now I've finished the book， I will look forward to watching Chloe Zhao's Oscar-winning movie of the same name。 。。。more

Samantha Schwartz ，

I feel guilt。 But this book just did not deliver。 I read Eviction earlier this year…and though I shouldn’t compare， did not even come close。 So glad to better understand a sub-culture I had very little insight to prior。 Will be thinking about Amazon in a different way when it is likely that I to want to order something in the morning。 3 stars bc I always want/need to better understand things of which I have had little exposure。 But 2 stars bc I felt this should/could have been so much better。

Jazme ，

Meh。 Just watch the movie！

Jessica ，

Audiobook

Linda Kenny ，

Written a few years ago， Nomadland is a work of nonfiction that shows us the camper culture that grew out of the economic downturn。 It also illustrates the growing gap between the haves and have nots in America。 Between the publishing of this book and today we have seen record employment rates but also an administration focused on relieving the wealthy and corporations from the burden of taxes。 It would be interesting to revisit these folks now that Covid is on the wane （how were they impacted b Written a few years ago， Nomadland is a work of nonfiction that shows us the camper culture that grew out of the economic downturn。 It also illustrates the growing gap between the haves and have nots in America。 Between the publishing of this book and today we have seen record employment rates but also an administration focused on relieving the wealthy and corporations from the burden of taxes。 It would be interesting to revisit these folks now that Covid is on the wane （how were they impacted by the virus） and also how the succession of time impacted them。 Many may have passed on since the book came out。 Is there still a nomadic camper culture？ 。。。more

Paul Strebe ，

I read this before the movie came out and thought it was OK。 But did it really deserve all the attention as a movie？ She's hailed as some hero， but her imagination is limited to going to work for Amazon and then complaining about it。 There have to be more interesting characters。 There are other modern "road books" out there that I found more interesting。 I read this before the movie came out and thought it was OK。 But did it really deserve all the attention as a movie？ She's hailed as some hero， but her imagination is limited to going to work for Amazon and then complaining about it。 There have to be more interesting characters。 There are other modern "road books" out there that I found more interesting。 。。。more

Linda ，

Excellent writing。 I saw the movie first， which I loved。 Then I realized there was actually a nonfiction book upon which the movie was （loosely） based。 And while the movie somewhat glamorized the hardships and travails of living out of a van （I walked out of the movie so ready for an open-ended road trip） - this book does not。It was actually rather gut-punching and sobering。 An excellent treatise on what our society does and does not value （cheap junk from Amazon， anyone？）， as well as an ode to Excellent writing。 I saw the movie first， which I loved。 Then I realized there was actually a nonfiction book upon which the movie was （loosely） based。 And while the movie somewhat glamorized the hardships and travails of living out of a van （I walked out of the movie so ready for an open-ended road trip） - this book does not。It was actually rather gut-punching and sobering。 An excellent treatise on what our society does and does not value （cheap junk from Amazon， anyone？）， as well as an ode to the grit and determination of those who choose （either by choice or circumstances） to make the road their home。If you like books that make you think， read this one。 。。。more

Cesar F ，

A side of USA that I was not aware of。。。a forgotten group of resourcefull and driven people。 I appreciate the author's interest in going to the bottom of this lifestyle。 I did not like cheating the system to get a job， though A side of USA that I was not aware of。。。a forgotten group of resourcefull and driven people。 I appreciate the author's interest in going to the bottom of this lifestyle。 I did not like cheating the system to get a job， though 。。。more

Bill Zawrotny ，

This could have been a good book。 It really could have been。 The subject matter was interesting， and there was a story to be told。 Sadly， the person writing the story is a far-left radical with an incredibly biased perspective on every aspect of society。 Anyone who can fit in "white privilege" when discussing why there aren't a lot of black RVers clearly has a twisted view of reality。 This is further evidenced by the fact that the author had to falsify a drug test to get a job at Amazon。。。that s This could have been a good book。 It really could have been。 The subject matter was interesting， and there was a story to be told。 Sadly， the person writing the story is a far-left radical with an incredibly biased perspective on every aspect of society。 Anyone who can fit in "white privilege" when discussing why there aren't a lot of black RVers clearly has a twisted view of reality。 This is further evidenced by the fact that the author had to falsify a drug test to get a job at Amazon。。。that she almost immediately quit because it was actual work。 Everything that happened to the people in this book that brought on their hard times was caused by anything other than their own choices。 The author is not a believer is personal responsibility， and this fact shines through throughout the book。 Sad， as there was so much potential here。 The subjects of this book deserved better。 。。。more

Caleb ，

Little disjointed and circular， but an interesting look at this surprisingly large world all the same。

Ann Vincent ，

Enjoyed as an audio book。 4。5

Karen ，

This book is well-written and well-researched but scary as hell for anyone approaching the thought of retirement。 I may have a tendency to be too empathetic， so no surprise that I did not like reading about people over the age of 60 living in a van， RV or school bus to survive。 And working at warehouses as "workampers" to make money？ 12 hour shifts of bending and scanning， lifting and carrying， walking miles and miles on hard， unforgiving， joint-and-bone-crushing concrete？？ Oh man！This book open This book is well-written and well-researched but scary as hell for anyone approaching the thought of retirement。 I may have a tendency to be too empathetic， so no surprise that I did not like reading about people over the age of 60 living in a van， RV or school bus to survive。 And working at warehouses as "workampers" to make money？ 12 hour shifts of bending and scanning， lifting and carrying， walking miles and miles on hard， unforgiving， joint-and-bone-crushing concrete？？ Oh man！This book opened my eyes to the unseen fallout that resulted from the mortgage disaster in 2008。 I feel like the story of the average person got swept under the rug。 How come these people who worked hard all their lives have nothing and no one is helping them？ Maybe the bigger question is why is housing so expensive？ Why do bankers who make a gajillion dollars a year get a bailout and regular people get everything taken from them when they have lost their jobs and they can't pay their mortgage or their rent？ And - is this where we are all headed， traveling in Mad Max vehicles， looking for food， water and a safe place to sleep？Some of these wanderers have blogs， so it may be worth checking their status out。 I haven't seen the movie， so I don't know if Linda May， the focus of the book， got to build the Earthship home of her dreams from recycled tires。 I hope they all survived COVID。 I have so many questions。。。Worth the read， especially for the overly empathetic。 。。。more

Martha Rubin ，

So interesting The book was well written and there are amazing stories and。 Good ending It’s so terrible how we treat older people。 They are strong and that’s inspiring

Ellen ，

Outstanding reporting and writing。 I learned so much。

Mary ，

3。5

Aleida Socarras ，

I was somewhat disappointed with the one or two page analysis and conclusion of three years of research。 The author does a great job describing the characters and their lives and you get a really good picture of their lives but I think the conclusion over simplifies the many complex issues touched on in the book。

Stephen ，

America has always been a nation on the move， but some people take that more literally than others。 Nomadland takes us into the aftermath of the great recession， as the collapse of the housing market and serial firm closures crushed hopes for a secure future and reduced many to poverty。 Some took to the road， and became part of a growing migrant community， of adults who live in vans and RVs and chase seasonal employment， from strawberry harvests in the summer to Amazon holiday crunches in the la America has always been a nation on the move， but some people take that more literally than others。 Nomadland takes us into the aftermath of the great recession， as the collapse of the housing market and serial firm closures crushed hopes for a secure future and reduced many to poverty。 Some took to the road， and became part of a growing migrant community， of adults who live in vans and RVs and chase seasonal employment， from strawberry harvests in the summer to Amazon holiday crunches in the late fall。 Although not everyone who chooses the Van Life is a victim of the great recession， Bruder makes that population her focus， with eye-opening results。 The van life has distinct advantages for those in a bind — allowing nomads to drastically reduce their expenses， to the point that many become debt free。The constant traveling allows for daily variation， and unique recreational opportunities， including massive rallies and trade meets where RVers and van-dwellers mix with old friends。 Against this there are the challenges: the usual road hazards， of course， in addition to often punishing work， varied as it is。 Vehicle breakdowns are far more serious， as putting a van in the shop means being homeless for a few days。 For those are still financially unstable， a mechanical failure can be catastrophically disruptive。 Although many van-dwellers embrace their status as people who flit on the margins， bidding a sweet farewell to the rat race and daily tedium， others regard their transition into the life as a fall from grace。。 Particularly sobering， when a reader visits all these stories， is the idea that this kind of poverty can happen to most everyone: many van-dwellers held very comfortable upper-middle class positions before they encountered disaster。Nomadland has an entertaining veer-and-lurch narrative: Jessica Bruder desperately wants to write about how the great recession and prolonged economic despair is turning millions of Americans into a perpetual migrant underclass， plug-in workers who appear and disappear at at the convenience of Big Bad Corporations’ logistics departments。 Her particular subjects are foisted into the van and RV life because of financial woes， like the recession or being looted in divorces。 Something happens to these people on the road， though， including Bruder’s star subject Linda。 By necessity， they economize and minimize， and are compelled to focus only on what’s important; the mental fog from day to day distractions disappears。 The same circumstances also compel them to become increasingly self-reliant， as they effect repairs on their own or create workarounds to various problems they encounter。 The result is a growing sense of freedom and empowerment: they suddenly become not economic losers， but creative rebels who have through ingenuity and a willingness to to take chances， found a way to escape the rat race。 Time and again Bruder returns to the poor-victims narrative， only for it derailed by the obvious pleasure and meaning that these migrants are finding in their new life， despite its challenges and difficulties。 Howevermuch Bruder and her subjects wrestle over the story being told， there’s no denying that Bruder was seriously committed to the work at hand。 She spends at least three years engaged in active research， at first living in a tent in migrant communities but then upgrading to a van of her own so she can fully participate in the life。 She knows both the first-timer’s fear at stealth-camping， and the pain of long hours at an Amazon fulfillment center。 Although she most assuredly meets van-dwellers who are markedly different from her， her compassion for the plight of those struggling to recover from setbacks never falters — and it is that concern that makes her chronic attempts to steer the narrative back to misery and away from the undeniable freedom these people have found， generally forgivable。 Nomadland is absolutely fascinating reading。 。。。more

H Z ，

Too depressing。

Sarah Haman ，

what do itinerant workers do and how do they live？ Is this trend toward "houselessness" taking over America？ what is the abuse of workers like across the country？ what do itinerant workers do and how do they live？ Is this trend toward "houselessness" taking over America？ what is the abuse of workers like across the country？ 。。。more

Karolina Konduracka ，

Reportaż naprawdę mi się podobał， chociaż o dziwo wielu nowych rzeczy się nie dowiedziałam

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