Is the American Dream dead? Adam Shepard wants to find out in Charleston, South Carolina, armed with only a tarp, $25 in cash, a gym bag, and the clothes on his body. His goal is to get a car, live in a furnished apartment, and have $2,500 in the bank after one year, which he deems is enough to prove that hard work is a way out of poverty.
While he acknowledges that his approach may be technically flawed, his book is a vivid report of his path out of poverty. He learns valuable and eye-opening lessons along the way, particularly when he meets the people living in the homeless shelter. He is surprised how many services are available to them helping them get back on track--and how little they are taken advantage of. Therefore, he concludes that your attitude is the most critical factor in improving your circumstances in life. Too often he witnesses drug addicts going for the short-term high because they are unwilling to commit to a long-term effort to rehabilitate. However, in Shepard's opinion, they should not be judged because everyone is guilty of the same behavior; he illustrates his point with "the guy smoking a cigarette while chewing a stick of Nicorette gum; the adulteress going out with other men, justifying that it might help her become a better mate to her husband; or the obese man ordering a diet soda to go along with his bacon double cheeseburger combo meal."
It is, therefore, vital to establish clear goals and never lose focus. Consequently, every action must be aligned with those goals, which requires discipline and a practical approach to life. Shepard mentions that people are so busy working that they have no time to enjoy what they are working for. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess short-term goals dictated by advertising and mindless consumerism, even if this means that a person has to swallow their pride and live in a homeless shelter to save money.
At the same time, he gets his most important piece of advice from Phil, "the resident nutcase," who tells him to be more assertive and confident if he wants to get a better job. The lesson learned is that everyone's thoughts should be heard, considered and valued.
Eventually, his experiment is successful but cut short because he has to return home to financially support his mother, who is going through cancer treatment. He calls this the "ultimate irony," having worked hard for a better life only to spend his earnings on someone else. This outcome emphasizes that it is not just one person who has to change their attitude and work hard to get out of poverty, but society as a whole so that basic needs such as healthcare are satisfied.
