Adam Shepard
His book documents his journey.
In college, Adam Shepard read Barabara Ehrenreich's "Nickel & Dimed," an exploration of the experiences of the working poor. He didn't like it. So upon graduation he walked into a homeless shelter with $25 in his pocket -- determined to prove he could work his way up from nothing to have a furnished apartment, a car and $2,500 in savings within a year.
Shepard met the goal -- proving, he says, that "the American Dream is still alive." He tells the story in a new book, "Scratch Beginnings."
Is poverty simply the result of an unwillingness to work or make good choices? Ben and Joel talked with Shepard to find out.
Listen to their discussion.
Thoughts