A hilarious and alarming (hilarming?) account of one guy's attempts to navigate the US job market circa 2000.

It was a wild ride filled with absurd interviews and unrealistic expectations. The job seekers were like fish out of water, trying to fit into a system that seemed designed to trip them up.

From being asked to perform magic tricks during an interview to being told that a degree in basket weaving was a prerequisite for a marketing position, the stories were truly mind-boggling.

Never have I been so thankful for my European nationality and my cosy bookshop job. In the US, the job market was cutthroat and unpredictable, with no guarantee of success. But in Europe, I could enjoy a stable career and a comfortable lifestyle.

This account serves as a reminder of the importance of finding a job that suits your skills and personality, rather than simply chasing the highest paycheck. It also shows that sometimes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

The book started off in an extremely entertaining and insightful manner. It was truly a work influenced by Communist thought, which made it quite captivating in the beginning.

However, as the story progressed into the second half, it unfortunately went downhill rather quickly. The ending left much to be desired, with the main character, who seemed to be a late baby boomer or early Gen-X'er, struggling to understand the rapidly changing world around him. He clung on to what he understood as the only real truths, which made him seem out of touch.

Despite its flaws, I would still recommend this book. But I would suggest that you can stop reading once the main character goes back to Alaska. By that point, you would have already grasped the essence of the story and the main ideas it was trying to convey.

Overall, it was an interesting read that had its moments of brilliance, but also its share of shortcomings.

The description provided is truly excellent as it delves into the arduous struggles that people encounter in their pursuit of finding, obtaining, and maintaining a well-paying job.

It offers valuable insights and is highly instructive.

Searching for a good job often involves countless hours of researching, networking, and submitting applications.

Once an opportunity presents itself, the competition can be fierce, requiring individuals to showcase their skills and qualifications in the best possible light.

Even after securing a job, holding onto it can be equally challenging, as one must continuously prove their worth and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the workplace.

This description serves as a reminder of the difficulties that many face in the job market and provides useful guidance on how to navigate these challenges.

Overall, it is a great piece of writing that offers both entertainment and enlightenment.

It really makes me feel a bit less bad about my repeated failures to land a job. At least I have the confidence that I am competitive when it comes to decent jobs. Even though in the end, I might not actually get them, it still gives me a sense of hope and self-worth. I know that I have the skills and qualities that are sought after in the job market. Maybe it's just a matter of time and the right opportunity coming along. I keep telling myself that every interview is a learning experience and that I am getting closer to finding the perfect job for me. So, instead of dwelling on the negatives, I choose to focus on the positives and stay positive in my job search.

I happened to come across this book because my girlfriend works with the author's sister. The premise really seemed to be right up my alley. It's about a fairly intelligent and educated guy who doesn't have any particularly marketable skills and just wanders from one job to another. His degree is in English and mine is in philosophy, but we both have a craving for variety and enjoy physical work. Clearly, we share some common ground.

The book can basically be divided into three sections. The first section details about two dozen of Levison's jobs, and it's truly fantastic. It's very well written, and his sense of humor had me laughing out loud several times. I could definitely picture myself in a number of the situations he described. However, he does the things that I only think about doing, which is probably why he gets fired from jobs and I don't. The first third of the book would have easily received a 5-star review from me without any hesitation.

The second section is all about his life up in Alaska while working on fishing boats. For the most part, it was interesting, but it wasn't written with the same sense of humor as the first section. The work sounded like absolute living hell, and I don't think Levison could find the humor in it. Because of that, this section dragged on a little bit.

The last section, which was shorter than the first two, was about his life after returning to the continental United States and getting back on the job merry-go-round. But instead of having the sense of humor that was present in the beginning of the book, there was a lot of bitterness and cynicism. He seemed resigned to a life where he would hate an infinite series of meaningless jobs, and you could really tell that he found it to be quite depressing.

Even though the end was a bit of a downer, I'm still glad that I read this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who has had similar life experiences. It makes for a nice afternoon's diversion.

Everyone is messed up, and those who aren't will soon be.

The mayor should figure out how to express that in Latin and make it the town motto. Or even better, 'Dutch Harbor: What fatal flaw in your character led you to end up here?'

This is really, really funny. What truly convinced me about this book is that it's not just a bitter account of those who have wronged the author. Instead, he vividly描绘 each unusual workplace and devotes a great deal of attention to bringing the colorful characters to life.

Effectively, it's a depressing yet hilarious travelogue that makes you wish you had majored in engineering.

Initially, I was deterred by the author's short-sightedness regarding his own role in disastrous work situations. However, by the end of the book, the self-deprecating tone alleviated that concern.

The section at the end where he mocks all these dreamers who want to make money on the internet, described as 'a series of picture-sending telephone wires,' is hilarious in an entirely different way.

It offers a unique perspective and a good dose of humor that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The author's ability to blend the serious and the comical makes this book a truly enjoyable read.

Whether you're looking for a lighthearted escape or a thought-provoking exploration of the working world, this book has something to offer.

So, pick it up and get ready to be entertained and enlightened.

A book written in 2002 but still relevant today.

I found the hardships of this precarious worker more terrifying than funny. It's almost like a report, an auto-report.

The book reminded me of some of the tricks employers play: for example, dangling the status of a boss while hiding the responsibilities, risks, and very little salary increase.

The book doesn't mention all the bureaucratic harassment an employee may face, perhaps a more recent reality.

His experience in Alaska will make me think twice before buying a can of crab!

In short, this book tells and questions the system in which we live.

It makes us aware of the challenges and inequalities that exist in the working world.

We should be more vigilant and demand fair treatment from our employers.

Also, it shows us that even in the most unexpected places, there can be difficult and eye-opening experiences.

This book is not only a story but also a wake-up call for all of us.

This book didn't turn out to be the hilarious read I was anticipating based on the other reviews. It's a quick and easy one, which is perfect for a rainy weekend.

Undoubtedly, it's an enjoyable and relatable book. As someone who also graduated with an extremely expensive degree and had very few job prospects, I can really identify with the situation described in the book. In fact, I even left the country just like the protagonist might have considered.

The story likely explores the challenges and uncertainties that come with such a situation, making it relevant to many who have faced similar circumstances. It might offer some insights or simply a sense of comfort in knowing that others have been through the same. Overall, while it may not be a side-splitting comedy, it still has its merits and can be a worthwhile read.

After the initial amusement wore off, I found myself constantly being reminded of the phrase "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result."

Does the author truly believe that the next long-haul trucking or restaurant job is going to miraculously lead to career bliss and provide health insurance? What is the common denominator here?

Levison does a relatively good job of laying out how a college graduate can unfortunately end up in this seemingly endless cycle. However, he doesn't do such a great job when it comes to seeing the opportunities that could potentially break one out of it. Instead of simply making fun of the way computers and the Internet have revolutionized the world, perhaps it would be more beneficial to look for ways in which an English major could earn a living by effectively using these powerful tools.

If this book were written today, it would probably take the form of a blog.

The workplace drama presented in the book is indeed entertaining, partly because it is so incredibly familiar to just about anyone who has been in the job market during the 90s and 00s.

I ended up liking this book a lot more than I initially thought I would.

As other reviewers have mentioned, I think this book serves as a great complement to Nickel and Dimed. However, unlike Ehrenreich, I found Levison to be a likable and believable character. It's truly difficult to envision Ehrenreich as a blue-collar worker.

Levison chronicles his diverse range of jobs in this book and writes about the people he encounters - both his supervisors and his coworkers, none of whom he perceives as snobbish. He is rather cynical, but who wouldn't be in his situation?

At the end of the day, Levison offers his perspective on workers' rights from a first-person point of view and raises some thought-provoking questions about the kind of society we desire to live in. Is it truly acceptable for the wealthy to place the blame on the poor for their poverty? Is "hard work" really the sole factor required to get ahead? This book prompts us to深思 these issues and consider our own beliefs and values.

For being unemployed, having no apartment, no car, and no job, and living with my parents, I discovered this book to be an outstanding source of comfort.

In the vast and wide world of work, not everyone is so fortunate. In fact, a great number of jobs are really bad. This book effectively served as a pleasant reminder of that truth.

It made me realize that I'm not alone in facing such difficulties. There are many others out there who are also struggling with similar situations.

Reading this book gave me a sense of reassurance and made me feel a little better about my current circumstances.

It made me understand that even in the face of adversity, there is still hope and that things can eventually get better.

Overall, this book has been a great help to me during this tough time in my life.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. There were several passages that made me burst out laughing. It seems that the lower your pay, the more they treat you like a workhorse, and I'm not referring to the family dog here.

I especially liked the paragraph on "artistes". It made me realize that there are others out there like me who see them for what they really are. They are pseudo-intellectual, pretentious art snobs. They are self-indulgent, selfish, and self-important a-holes.

This book has given me a new perspective on certain aspects of life and has provided some much-needed entertainment. I would highly recommend it to others who are looking for a good read that combines humor and thought-provoking content.

I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us in future works.