The inspiration for Chloé Zhao's celebrated film starring Frances McDormand, winner of the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress A Selection of the PBS Newshour-New York Times "Now Read This" Book Club New York Times bestseller "People who thought the 2008 financial collapse was over a long time ago need to meet the people Jessica Bruder got to know in this scorching, beautifully written, vivid, disturbing (and occasionally wryly funny) book." —Rebecca Solnit From the beet fields of North Dakota to the National Forest campgrounds of California to Amazon’s CamperForce program in Texas, employers have discovered a new, low-cost labor pool, made up largely of transient older Americans. Finding that social security comes up short, often underwater on mortgages, these invisible casualties of the Great Recession have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in late-model RVs, travel trailers, and vans, forming a growing community of nomads. On frequently traveled routes between seasonal jobs, Jessica Bruder meets people from all walks of life: a former professor, a McDonald’s vice president, a minister, a college administrator, and a motorcycle cop, among many others—including her irrepressible protagonist, a onetime cocktail waitress, Home Depot clerk, and general contractor named Linda May. In a secondhand vehicle she christens “Van Halen,” Bruder hits the road to get to know her subjects more intimately. Accompanying Linda May and others from campground toilet cleaning to warehouse product scanning to desert reunions, then moving on to the dangerous work of beet harvesting, Bruder tells a compelling, eye-opening tale of the dark underbelly of the American economy—one that foreshadows the precarious future that may await many more of us. At the same time, she celebrates the exceptional resilience and creativity of these quintessential Americans who have given up ordinary rootedness to survive. Like Linda May, who dreams of finding land on which to build her own sustainable “Earthship” home, they have not given up hope.
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About the author
Jessica Bruder
Author
Jessica L. Bruder is an American journalist who writes about subcultures and teaches narrative writing at Columbia Journalism School.
Nomadland
by Jessica Bruder
Books Like Nomadland
If you're looking for books similar to Nomadland, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
The Warmth of Other Suns
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A masterful account of the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to urban centers. Wilkerson follows three individuals to illustrate the massive social transformation and personal struggles of migration. The book explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the search for economic opportunity. Like Nomadland, it examines how economic conditions force people to reimagine their lives.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
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A powerful ethnographic study exploring the lives of low-income Americans struggling with housing insecurity. Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee, revealing the complex economic and social challenges of poverty. The book provides an intimate look at the systemic issues that force people to the margins of society. Like Nomadland, it offers a compassionate and unflinching examination of economic vulnerability in modern America.
Educated
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A memoir about a woman who grows up in a strict, isolated family and ultimately pursues education against significant odds. Westover describes her journey from a rural background to academic achievement. The book explores themes of personal transformation and resilience in the face of economic and social challenges. Like Nomadland, it highlights individual agency and survival.
Nickel and Dimed
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An investigative work about the struggles of low-wage workers in America. Ehrenreich goes undercover in various minimum wage jobs to expose the challenges of surviving on limited income. The book reveals the harsh economic realities faced by working-class Americans, similar to the nomadic workers in Bruder's narrative. It provides a critical look at economic inequality and survival strategies.
Heartland
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A memoir about growing up in rural Kansas, exploring generational poverty and economic challenges. Smarsh provides a personal narrative about working-class struggles in America. The book examines family, economic mobility, and survival strategies. Like Nomadland, it offers a compassionate look at economic marginalization.
The Working Poor
David K. Shipler
An in-depth exploration of working-class Americans struggling to escape poverty. Shipler provides detailed portraits of individuals working multiple jobs yet unable to achieve financial stability. The book examines systemic barriers that trap people in economic cycles of hardship. It shares Nomadland's compassionate approach to understanding economic marginalization.
Janesville
Amy Goldstein
A detailed account of a Wisconsin town's economic collapse after a major GM plant closure. Goldstein follows various individuals as they navigate job loss and economic transformation. The book explores themes of community resilience and economic adaptation. It shares Nomadland's focus on individual stories within broader economic shifts.
Strangers in Their Own Land
Arlie Russell Hochschild
An examination of political and economic dynamics in rural Louisiana, exploring why people vote against their apparent economic interests. Hochschild provides deep empathy and understanding of working-class perspectives. The book reveals complex social dynamics similar to those in Nomadland. It offers insights into economic displacement and community resilience.
Hillbilly Elegy
J.D. Vance
A memoir about growing up in a poor Rust Belt town, exploring economic decline and social challenges in working-class America. Vance reflects on his family's struggles and the broader societal issues facing rural communities. The book provides insights into economic marginalization and personal resilience. It shares Nomadland's focus on individuals navigating economic hardship.
Hand to Mouth
Linda Tirado
A raw, personal account of living in poverty in America. Tirado describes the daily challenges and systemic obstacles faced by low-income workers. The book provides a direct, unfiltered perspective on economic struggle and survival strategies. Like Nomadland, it offers an intimate look at economic marginalization.
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