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| Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream | 
 enlarge | Author: Adam W. Shepard
Publisher: Collins
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $11.38
You Save: $8.57 (43%)
New (39) Used (8) from $11.37
Avg. Customer Rating:  64 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 1
ISBN: 0061714364
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.5092
EAN: 9780061714368
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 59 more reviews...
 Chapter 15 January 9, 2009
Chapter 15 is one of the best chapters ever written in a book. Skip everything and go straight there...then maybe read the rest. Very enjoyable.
For you and for people you disagree with January 8, 2009
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.
So what is it that makes the book interesting? I guess it's that for all his shortcomings and prejudices, Shepard does seem to approach the topic of overcoming poverty with a genuine sense of openness and adventure. Sometimes I wanted to drop the book and argue. Other times I felt like shouting out "see! that's what I was telling you". Ultimately, Shepard's biases emerge not as punditry, but as a self-portrait of a human being. I don't know if I learned anything by reading this book, but I got to watch the author learn. And that's what has made the story stick with me and led me to give it a positive review, overall.
Fascinating description by a brave writer - 5 stars December 28, 2008
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 his self-designed experiment are incredibly inspiring, and the details keep the reader turning pages until the story ends (and wondering what happens afterward).
An Excellent Case Study in Poverty! December 23, 2008
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 that's just not that exciting. Still, the first two-thirds provides a lot of material for reflection, and therefore it's worth a lot. Worth your time.
Months Later this Book is Still Sticking With Me December 21, 2008
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. In other words, "Don't try this at home."
Then in the prologue he says that he's not aspiring to great writing, but just telling his story, and the story of those he met. I don't agree. Adam Shepherd tells the story, and tells it well.
He has a very definite audience in mind -- teens who feel adrift and parents of teens and young adults who lack motivation. He wants his book to serve as an encouragement to those who feel stuck. He offers up his own conclusion at the end about why Americans aren't succeeding any more. It's not because there isn't opportunity, it's because they don't have a plan.
I really enjoyed this book, and if you're interested in social causes, poverty in America, or the mentality of Generation X (Y?), I think you'd like it too.
After reading it months ago, it's still sticking with me. Shepherd made his point perfectly -- that the "American Dream" is still out there and available to those who are willing to work for it, though it's not necessarily easy or the route that all end up choosing.
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