Intriguing book: Scratch Beginnings
Feb. 18th, 2008 09:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pegkerrI saw this in Get Rich Slowly [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
get_rich_slowly] here: In response to his dissatisfaction with Barbara Ehrenreich’s book of social critique about class in America Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Adam Shepherd, a newly minted college graduate, decided to try a social experiment. He recounts his experiences in his new book Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream. Shepard — who is the first to admit that he has advantages that many of the working poor do not — started from scratch in Charleston, South Carolina, with $25 and the clothes on his back. He did not use his education, contacts, or his credit history. He lived in a homeless shelter while looking for work. His goal was to start with nothing and, within a year, work hard enough to save $2500, buy a car, and to live in a furnished apartment.
It wasn’t easy, but Shepard succeeded. In ten months, he had his car, he had his furnished apartment, and he hadn’t just saved $2500 — he’d saved twice that. Was he lucky? Did he get good breaks because he’s a young white male? Probably. But he does attribute much of his success from setting goals and working toward them.
In this two minute video, Shepard describes his aims:
A Christian Monitor story features his tale. The Get Rich Slowly link above also includes an interview with Mr. Shepherd.
Have you read either book, Barbara Ehrenreich's or Mr. Shepherd's? What did you think?
get_rich_slowly] here: In response to his dissatisfaction with Barbara Ehrenreich’s book of social critique about class in America Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Adam Shepherd, a newly minted college graduate, decided to try a social experiment. He recounts his experiences in his new book Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream. Shepard — who is the first to admit that he has advantages that many of the working poor do not — started from scratch in Charleston, South Carolina, with $25 and the clothes on his back. He did not use his education, contacts, or his credit history. He lived in a homeless shelter while looking for work. His goal was to start with nothing and, within a year, work hard enough to save $2500, buy a car, and to live in a furnished apartment.It wasn’t easy, but Shepard succeeded. In ten months, he had his car, he had his furnished apartment, and he hadn’t just saved $2500 — he’d saved twice that. Was he lucky? Did he get good breaks because he’s a young white male? Probably. But he does attribute much of his success from setting goals and working toward them.
In this two minute video, Shepard describes his aims:
A Christian Monitor story features his tale. The Get Rich Slowly link above also includes an interview with Mr. Shepherd.
Have you read either book, Barbara Ehrenreich's or Mr. Shepherd's? What did you think?