These rich, college educated, but very naive people temporarily “go native” in many third world countries, notably Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Thailand. After spending 6-12 months “keeping it real” and eschewing western culture (except for the things these people “need,” such as a multi-band cell phone and an internet connection), they return to the Larchmonts and Marbleheads of America and act if they have been “transformed” by the experience.

Here is an anecdotal account of “Muffie” calling her friend “Leesa” (notice the affectated spellings?). Muffie is just about to return to West Moneybucks, CT from 10 months in Costa Rica. Leesa returned from Nepal a week earlier. Of course, Leesa and Muffie want to get together to discuss how “fabulous” their slumming-it-with-the-natives experiences were.

Leesa offers to pick up Muffie at JFK. Leesa told Muffie she will be driving “dad’s car.” “Oh, which one?,” Muffie asked. Leesa replied, without any tint of irony in her voice, “I’m not sure if I want to take the 2005 Jag, the 2003 BMW Convertible, or mom’s 2007 Acura MDX.” Muffie asked Leesa to take the Acura, since she thinks her backpack will fit best in the SUV.

Just as most of his trustafarian brethren return “close to home” after about 10 months or so, Adam Shepard returned back to his wealthy North Carolina family, ostensibly due to “family problems.” HELLO? Poor people have family problems, also. However, the REAL poor cannot escape the “Trustafarian Disneyland” when there are family issues.

These people must continue to WORK and SCRAPE BY in spite of whatever life throws at them. If these people are lucky enough to even have a car, it is likely out of warranty and prone to mechanical breakdowns.

At first, the only problem I had with Shepard’s book is the whole “slumming it” tone is takes (poor people swear!) but I still found the whole experiment interesting. It’s the attitude him (and his new acolytes) have taken with even the slightest criticism - so what is he’s white, healthy, young, and unencumbered by debt/family/medical problems? This proves anybody can do this, they just don’t want to! They’re too busy putting rims on their cars! Why not just admit the experiment is of course slanted, the way any actual journalist/investigator would, and move on?

Oh, I forgot. His personal experiences can of course be extended to everybody in America.

I was also disappointed by the overall level of writing in the book, but that’s what happens when a rich kid who skated through college on daddy’s money writes a book.

I’m sure his alma mater would be happy to learn that a college degree is worth a line on a resume and nothing more. The fact is, his education has helped him become poised and articulate. I’m sure it improved his communication and leadership skills. It also helped him learn to think critically, a crucial job skill. All of those factors, I’m sure, helped him while he was looking for jobs.

Was there anything specific you didn’t like about the book, other than his general attitude?

Thanks for the comments!

What is so fascinating about Shepard’s story is that he DID something, while the rest of us are blogging about it.

We whine and complain and whine and complain and whine and complain. But we don’t offer solutions.

Shepard does.