We will be discussing Nomadland: Survi ving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder. \;
\nFrom the beet fields of North Dakota to the National Forest campgrou nds of California to Amazon&rsquo\;s CamperForce program in Texas\, employ ers have discovered a new\, low-cost labor pool\, made up largely of trans ient older Americans. Finding that social security comes up short\, often underwater on mortgages\, these invisible casualties of the Great Recessio n have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in late-model RVs\, trav el trailers\, and vans\, forming a growing community of nomads.
\nIn a secondhand vehicle she christens &ldquo\;Van Halen\,&rdquo\; Bruder hit s the road to get to know her subjects more intimately. Accompanying Linda May and others from campground toilet cleaning to warehouse product scann ing to desert reunions\, then moving on to the dangerous work of beet harv esting\, Bruder tells a compelling\, eye-opening tale of the dark underbel ly of the American economy&mdash\;one that foreshadows the precarious futu re that may await many more of us. At the same time\, she celebrates the e xceptional resilience and creativity of these quintessential Americans who have given up ordinary rootedness to survive. (From the publisher)
\n< p>Find a copy of the book \;here. \;You can also find the eb ook and eaudiobook on \;Digital& nbsp\;Library of Illinois \;or through the Libby app on your devic e. The audiobook is always available through Hoopla.\nRegistration will close two hours before t he program begins and registrants will receive a link to join shortly ther eafter.
\nPlease email community@wilmettelibrary.info with any quest ions about how to access the program via Zoom.
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