Nomadland - Jessica Bruder

⭐9/10

This is the book which was eventually adapted into the award winning movie of the same name, a movie I watched earlier this year and really loved. However, rather than being a narrative in really any sense, this is more a work of investigative journalism in which the author spends years studying this phenomenon. 

The phenomenon, for those unfamiliar, is one in which following the recession, thousands of (mostly) seniors bought vans or RVs to live our their retirements in, living minimalist lifestyles and doing seasonal work to keep afloat. It was a lifestyle born from necessity, but gave way to a fulfilling, sometimes beautiful way of life. The book itself focuses mainly on a few people, including the author who bought a van and lived in it for a few months to get a better idea. 

This book is phenomenal. Not only is it well-researched and nicely written, but it is about a topic that has become near and dear to me. It's honestly a lifestyle that appeals to me, one I might be interested in if I lived alone, and one dripping in romance. Yes, much of the hipster aesthetic appeals to me, but I think the deeper sense of minimalism and contentment are at the centre of this and super important topics. I often wonder if I could do without my modern comforts, but for those who have been forced into it, they often speak of rediscovering the important things like community and freedom. 

Again, I know I'm probably just dreaming, and I would spend one week doing this before giving up (or until I have exactly one issue with my vehicle cuz God knows I'd be clueless), but I think that of all the ways to be poor, this would be the most exciting and meaningful. There are chapters about these massive van-dweller meetups in Arizona and nothing sounds more fun than that. 

But alas, this book is also a critique of the American system, and my goodness what an absolutely broken country. It is infuriating what these people have to go through while the rest of the developed world does not have to dream of it. These are seniors approaching 80 working 12 hour days in Amazon warehouses with no AC so that they can pay for medical expenses. People who worked their whole life to get $500 social security checks, having no home and still barely able to eat. It's maddening, and despite the romance of van life, it's simply infuriating realizing that it doesn't have to be this way. 

So yeah, this book absolutely hits all the boxes. It's a great work, and relevant and interesting for those who dream of van life or those who don't. I'll hopefully never be put in a position where I'm forced into this choice, but it's honestly comforting knowing that if I lose everything, this options exists.