Scratch Beginnings: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Added Information |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
A response to the book ''[[Nickel and Dimed]]'', written by ''[[Adam Sheppard]]'', a graduate of ''[[Merrimack College]]''. |
A response to the book ''[[Nickel and Dimed]]'', written by ''[[Adam Sheppard]]'', a graduate of ''[[Merrimack College]]''. |
||
== |
==Storyline== |
||
== |
==Goals== |
||
While Shepard states that his story is not politically motivated, he did intend it to be a rebuttal to Barbara Ehrenreich's books "Nickel and Dimed" and "Bait and Switch" on a socio-economic level. He writes, ''"Ehrenreich attempted to establish that working stiffs are doomed to live in the same disgraceful conditions forever ... my story is a search to evaluate if hard work and discipline provide any payoff whatsoever or if they are, as Ehrenreich suggests, futile pursuits."''<ref>[http://www.scratchbeginnings.com/average-joes-search-for-american-dream Article on Official Website]</ref> |
|||
Shepard's goal was to overcome his adverse circumstances and obtain $2,500, an operable car and a furnished apartment, all within one year. However, he resolved not to use his college education, credit history or any of his previous contacts to help himself. Additionally, he would not beg for money or use services that were not available to others. |
|||
==Social Issues== |
|||
Along the way, Shepard explores controversial premises, such as: |
|||
*Why the book ''[[Nickel and Dimed]]'' was flawed from the beginning. |
|||
*Why raising the minimum wage does not stimulate the economy of the lower class. |
|||
*Why immigration and job outsourcing are not the causes of decreasing opportunity in the American workforce. |
|||
*How certain individuals are profiting from the consumer's fear of the death of the American Dream.<ref>[http://www.scratchbeginnings.com/average-joes-search-for-american-dream Article on Official Website]</ref> |
|||
==See Also== |
|||
*[[Adam Sheppard]] |
*[[Adam Sheppard]] |
||
*[[Nickel and Dimed]] |
*[[Nickel and Dimed]] |
||
| Line 10: | Line 22: | ||
*[[Jack London]], ''[[The People of the Abyss]]'' |
*[[Jack London]], ''[[The People of the Abyss]]'' |
||
*[[Jacob Riis]], ''[[How the Other Half Lives]]'' |
*[[Jacob Riis]], ''[[How the Other Half Lives]]'' |
||
==References== |
|||
<!-- DO NOT ADD A SCROLL-BAR TO THESE REFERENCES-IT BREAKS THE FORMATTING --> |
|||
<!-- Don't add <div class="references-small"> either, this is included in the template already --> |
|||
{{reflist|2}} |
|||
== External Links == |
== External Links == |
||
* [http://www.scratchbeginnings.com/ Official website of the book] |
* [http://www.scratchbeginnings.com/ Official website of the book] |
||
[[Category:2008 books]] |
[[Category:2008 books]] |
||
Revision as of 22:07, 16 December 2007
A response to the book Nickel and Dimed, written by Adam Sheppard, a graduate of Merrimack College.
Storyline
Goals
While Shepard states that his story is not politically motivated, he did intend it to be a rebuttal to Barbara Ehrenreich's books "Nickel and Dimed" and "Bait and Switch" on a socio-economic level. He writes, "Ehrenreich attempted to establish that working stiffs are doomed to live in the same disgraceful conditions forever ... my story is a search to evaluate if hard work and discipline provide any payoff whatsoever or if they are, as Ehrenreich suggests, futile pursuits."[1]
Shepard's goal was to overcome his adverse circumstances and obtain $2,500, an operable car and a furnished apartment, all within one year. However, he resolved not to use his college education, credit history or any of his previous contacts to help himself. Additionally, he would not beg for money or use services that were not available to others.
Social Issues
Along the way, Shepard explores controversial premises, such as:
- Why the book Nickel and Dimed was flawed from the beginning.
- Why raising the minimum wage does not stimulate the economy of the lower class.
- Why immigration and job outsourcing are not the causes of decreasing opportunity in the American workforce.
- How certain individuals are profiting from the consumer's fear of the death of the American Dream.[2]
See Also
- Adam Sheppard
- Nickel and Dimed
- George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London
- Polly Toynbee, Hard Work: Life in Low-Pay Britain
- Jack London, The People of the Abyss
- Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives