Scratch Beginnings : A Review

Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepard

If you’re a regular reader, I like to make it clear to you that I enjoy reading and learning. The advantage to this blog is that I also have the opportunity to share with you what I learn while engaged in my reading. A few days ago, I finished a book entitled “Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the SEARCH for the AMERICAN DREAM” by Adam Shepard. This is a truly intriguing book that, I feel, is definitely worth a read if you want to be inspired by one man’s determination to succeed no matter what the circumstances.

This book is an autobiography of a time in Adam Shepard’s life. After graduating from college, Adam was feeling disillusioned with the state of American poverty. He had been told for years that the poor would only get poorer while the rich only got richer. He was told that the American dream was dead and that those in poverty didn’t have a way out.

This idea really didn’t sit well in Adam’s mind, so he looked for a way to test it. His solution? Take a train ride to a random city carrying only a sleeping bag, the clothes on his back, and $25 cash and see if he could make something of himself. His only real rules were that he was not allowed to use either his previous contacts or his college education to help him out in this process.

His goal was, after a year, to have a furnished living space, an operating vehicle, and $2500 saved up.

While I won’t spoil the whole story for you, let me just tell you that it is engaging. Adam has experiences that most will never have and walks away from the experience not only meeting his goals, but exceeding them by a significant amount.

Adam Shepard on tour for his book

The most inspiring portion of this story, for me, is the drive, ambition, and optimism Adam approached nearly every situation with. By working really, really hard, he truly showed that it is possible to, with a lot of hard work, make your way out of the grind of survival into a better situation.

If you’re looking for a good read, I would recommend Scratch Beginnings. Do, however, note that the book uses a plethora of swear words (all in contextual, direct quotes from those Adam met along his way). If this offends you too much, you will likely not enjoy the book. Otherwise, you should be able to catch the encouraging meaning laced throughout this candid portrayal of one year of Adam’s life.

Photo by Chrontourage.