Nomadland book — awesome and OMG

[waldenbound]

I just finished Nomadland and I think I need a bottle of Prozac!
Jeez, talk about negative. I bet the author comes out with volume 2, and the heroine will get bit by a rattlesnake, or break a leg, or drug runners will take over her house. She'll think of some kind of drama.

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

I've typed out a comment 3 times and just as I'm about to finish it disappears (my computer I think). Basically, I'm getting more of an optimistic vibe from the book than obviously others have. It depicts more of the "downside" of the community; but the group the author follows is upbeat about their lives and lifestyle overall; ... there are other instances where a nomad is pessimistic and down about being nomadic and workamping, but those people are not the ones being followed up on and/or repeatedly referenced. Entertaining, and definitely biased against, but overall fairly reported in my opinion.

 

[slynne]

I found the story of the woman with the Earthship dream to be quite inspiring. I didn't see a lot of the narrative as hopeless, quite the opposite actually. It was a book about how many have suffered in our recent economic changes though. Yet there were stories of triumph over adversity.  It is terrible that so many people see things like Amazon as their only option but is it fair to call such hard working people, "parasites"? I don't think so. They all are willing to work harder than I am!!! I am sure they pay their taxes like everyone else.

 

[waldenbound]

Linda May, the main nomad in the book, is a very plucky lady and I admire the heck out of her. It’s the author that turns me off. She is the one spreading negativity, and down by the river/Grapes of Wrath, poor poor me. The subjects themselves are many time upbeat. They all need to tell the author everything is going to be alright.

 

[John61CT]

In a country as wealthy as the US, there should not be **any** people forced by circumstances to live this lifestyle. Nor of course all the millions in much worse circumstances.

Haven't read the book, but all media putting a negative slant on nomads & vehicle dwellers should highlight that point.

 

[lenny flank]

In a country as wealthy as the US, there should not be **any** people forced by circumstances to live this lifestyle. 

Amen. The United States of America is the wealthiest society that has ever existed in all of human history: wealthier than the Roman Empire, wealthier than the Spanish Empire, wealthier than the British Empire, wealthier than all of them combined. The very idea that there should be homeless and poverty-stricken people here is simply absurd. 

There is an enormously big difference between "van-dwelling" and "being a homeless person".

 

[John61CT]

If it's truly a choice, plenty of alternatives when you feel like staying in a S&B for a while, then yes.

Not such a big difference if there's no place else to go but the great outdoors.

Not saying van dwelling, living in a trailer or tent is so bad, certainly nothing wrong with it, should be no stigma.

Just don't want people accepting it as a "solution" to our systemic housing crisis.

Like saying "hey those inner city schools are still better than what they have in Zimbabwe".

We should be aiming much higher.

 

[akrvbob]

That's political, so let's get back on topic.

 

[Travelmonkey]

I just finished listening to the audiobook that I downloaded from the library. I wasn't thrilled with how it started; it focuses on how the system that let down the main nomad (Linda) and the others vs bad luck, bad decisions, and bad circumstances. I did like how it covered how this lifestyle improved lives covering the tribe, friendships and increased happiness as Linda got the hang of it. It was interesting to hear the part of Bob Well's introduction into van dwelling. I've read some articles in his blog but the author included a good amount of background I wasn't aware of...

If you have a library card and your library offers ebooks and eaudiobooks, take time to learn how to access this material. You don't need to physically at the library. Only wifi is needed.

 

[user 423]

Did you know that this book was written by the Mona Lisa?