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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.5092
EAN: 9780061714368
ISBN: 0061714364
Label: Collins
Manufacturer: Collins
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Date: October 01, 2008
Publisher: Collins
Release Date: October 14, 2008
Sales Rank: 9126
Studio: Collins
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Adam Shepard graduated from college in the summer of 2006 feeling disillusioned by the apathy he saw around him and incensed after reading Barbara Ehrenreich's famous works Nickel and Dimed and Bait and Switch—books that gave him a feeling of hopelessness over the state of the working class in America. Eager to see if he could make something out of nothing, he set out to prove wrong Ehrenreich's theory that those who start at the bottom stay at the bottom, and to see if the American Dream can still be a reality.
Shepard's plan was simple. Carrying only a sleeping bag, the clothes on his back, and $25 in cash, and restricted from using previous contacts or relying on his college education, he set out for a randomly selected city with one objective: work his way out of homelessness and into a life that would give him the opportunity for success. His goal was to have, after one year, $2,500, a working automobile, and a furnished apartment.
But from the start, things didn't go as smoothly as Shepard had planned. Working his way up from a Charleston, South Carolina homeless shelter proved to be more difficult than he anticipated, with pressure to take low-paying, exploitive jobs from labor companies, and a job market that didn't respond with enthusiasm to homeless applicants. Shepard even began donating plasma to make fast cash. To his surprise, he found himself depending most on fellow shelter residents for inspiration and advice.
Earnest, passionate, and hard to put down, Scratch Beginnings is a story that will not only inspire readers, but will also remind them that success can come to anyone who is willing to work hard—and that America is still one of the most hopeful and inspiring countries in the world.
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
Shepard is not really much of a writer. His book lacks the tight structure that you would expect from a professional author, and even contains some basic grammatical errors. He's not particularly mature or wise or someone that I would expect to take advice from (though he does mature over the course of his experience). He's not an inherently interesting character. I already know plenty of average suburban boys. Nonetheless, I have to admit that I enjoyed reading Scratch Beginnings.
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Rating: -
Actually I give this five stars (can't figure how to edit that)
Motivated by what one can only assume is genuine social compassion, this courageous author decided to leave the comforts of his college education and middle-class lifestyle behind to experience life as a homeless man. In this clever (and challenging) social experiment, Shepard experiences all the trials and tribulations of the most challenged members of society. His unbridled optimism and sheer force of will as he lives ... Read More
Rating: -
Shepard produces a very interesting read (for the most part) out of what is a typical do-it-yourself story: could an average guy make it when starting as broke and homeless? The answer, it turns out, is yes. Shepard never denies his inherent advantages of education and common sense, but the story of his progression is still interesting. It's true that the book slows near the end; however, this shouldn't be a surprise. As Shepard gets a job and house, his life begins to resemble our own lives, and ... Read More
Rating:  -
The book opens with a page upon which Adam Shepherd offers a couple of disclaimers. The first is the use of profanity. He said that he considered censoring the language to give it wider appeal, but he said it would take away from an accurate portrayal of the people he met. There is some strong language used in a few scenes, but I think given the subject matter, it's not overused at all.
The second is that he's not recommending his course of action he took by immersing himself in this world. ... Read More
Rating:  -
This book embodies the worst kind of reasoning: that because the author can "make it" from scratch, anyone can. It's positive message of "The American Dream is possible" casts the deliberate but unspoken shadow: The poor deserve what they have, and are just lazy.
An educated, white male can make $5,000 in a year from scratch? Does this truly verify that the American Dream is possible? The author has no dependents, is able-bodied, and articulate. The book ignores very relevant factors: race, ... Read More
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