Hand to Mouth

Living in Bootstrap America

By: Linda Tirado

Narrated by: Linda Tirado

From the author of the eye-opening and controversial essay on poverty that was read by millions comes the real-life Nickel and Dimed, and Linda Tirado explains what it’s like to be working poor in America, and why poor people make the decisions they do.

We in America have certain ideas of what it means to be poor. Linda Tirado, in her signature brutally honest yet personable voice, takes all of these preconceived notions and smashes them to bits. She articulates not only what it is to be working poor in America (yes, you can be poor and live in a house and have a job, even two), but what poverty is truly like—on all levels.

In her thought-provoking voice, Tirado discusses how she went from lower-middle class, to sometimes middle class, to poor and everything in between, and in doing so reveals why “poor people don’t always behave the way middle-class America thinks they should.”

Avid reader

This book is amazing. I recommend this to everyone rich poor and in between the two.

Eye-opening! Challenging!

Wow! “walk a mile” in her shoes & take a good look into the real struggle for survival that many face in our country of “plenty”! At the very least, this story will answer many questions & should silence many criticisms! I hope it is a catalyst for long overdue change! It has changed me. Thank you for sharing your story, Linda Tirado!

Thank you...

This book helped me see I needn't be ashamed about my past experience. It's wonderful!

Succinct and True

What did you like about this audiobook?

The author's performance adds so much to this book. If you're open to learning what it's actually like to be poor in America and don't mind feeling a bit guilty while you learn what your privilege means to poor people, this book is for you. Of course the author doesn't speak for every single poor person in this country. But she does paint a very clear picture of what millions of people like her go through just to get by. And it's not pretty. Yes, she can come off as a bit whiny at times. But you know what? She has every right to whine. It's hard as hell to be poor. Props to her for telling the truth.

Simply my reality.

This book was an optional read for extra credit in a sociology class I'm currently enrolled in at CSUSB. I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter...it made me laugh with jokes that will only be understood by those who have "been there"... it made me shake my head with disgust at the reality and truths that are revealed about minimum wage student living...it made me sad to recognize my future, but that gave me motivation enough to desperately try at finding a better job, and landing one. To the author, thank you for helping me recognize where I was in life and where I would be if I didn't make a change...it forced me to step up into something better...I'll admit, I got lucky... but best of luck to everyone else who " just gets this" book...you know you need it, lol.