In 1995, America was in the throes of downsizing fever. Many thousands then, as now, were losing their jobs to the corporate demand of more money for the top, by tightening the belt below. Unable to sell his latest novel, Ben Cheever started to think about what employment opportunities were out there. Selling Ben Cheever is the frank, self-effacing, and enlightening chroni In 1995, America was in the throes of downsizing fever. Many thousands then, as now, were losing their jobs to the corporate demand of more money for the top, by tightening the belt below. Unable to sell his latest novel, Ben Cheever started to think about what employment opportunities were out there. Selling Ben Cheever is the frank, self-effacing, and enlightening chronicle of his five years in the service industry. As we watch Ben confront his own demons about what a particular job means to him, we are compelled to consider how our egos are affected by not only what we do, but how we do it. Through his experiences, we begin to think about our approach to our own jobs and to confront our fears about what we would do if we didn't have them.Author Biography: Benjamin Hale Cheever has been a reporter for daily newspapers and an editor at Reader's Digest. He is the author of the acclaimed novels The Plagarist, The Partisan, and Famous After Death, and the editor of The Letters of John Cheever. He has taught at Bennington College and The New School for Social Research.
Selling Ben Cheever - Back to Square One in a Service Economy [Unabridged] [Audiobook]
In 1995, America was in the throes of downsizing fever. Many thousands then, as now, were losing their jobs to the corporate demand of more money for the top, by tightening the belt below. Unable to sell his latest novel, Ben Cheever started to think about what employment opportunities were out there. Selling Ben Cheever is the frank, self-effacing, and enlightening chroni In 1995, America was in the throes of downsizing fever. Many thousands then, as now, were losing their jobs to the corporate demand of more money for the top, by tightening the belt below. Unable to sell his latest novel, Ben Cheever started to think about what employment opportunities were out there. Selling Ben Cheever is the frank, self-effacing, and enlightening chronicle of his five years in the service industry. As we watch Ben confront his own demons about what a particular job means to him, we are compelled to consider how our egos are affected by not only what we do, but how we do it. Through his experiences, we begin to think about our approach to our own jobs and to confront our fears about what we would do if we didn't have them.Author Biography: Benjamin Hale Cheever has been a reporter for daily newspapers and an editor at Reader's Digest. He is the author of the acclaimed novels The Plagarist, The Partisan, and Famous After Death, and the editor of The Letters of John Cheever. He has taught at Bennington College and The New School for Social Research.
Compare
30 review for Selling Ben Cheever - Back to Square One in a Service Economy [Unabridged] [Audiobook]
Related products
Sacred Songs and Solos: Words & Music
No Praise Music for Kids? No Problem: Words Edition
The Words and Music of James Taylor
Wonderful Words of Life Easy Piano Sheet Music
Scenes: Words, Pictures, and Music
Remember - A Sonnet - Set to Music as a Song for Low Voice - Words by Christina Rossetti
The Words and Music of Randy Newman
William –
I have misgivings about rating this book so highly -- it is full of odd digressions and repetitions, and it often lacks transitions between episodes (i.e., jobs). In addition, the descriptions of some of the jobs Cheever takes makes the book feel every year its age (such as promoting the Mac Performa, selling Pontiac Firebirds, etc.). However, Cheever truly explores how it feels to work in the service industry, and his observations ring true for anyone who has ever held this type of job. And one I have misgivings about rating this book so highly -- it is full of odd digressions and repetitions, and it often lacks transitions between episodes (i.e., jobs). In addition, the descriptions of some of the jobs Cheever takes makes the book feel every year its age (such as promoting the Mac Performa, selling Pontiac Firebirds, etc.). However, Cheever truly explores how it feels to work in the service industry, and his observations ring true for anyone who has ever held this type of job. And one of the best features of a decent book is the reader's sorrow to see it end. Even though Cheever did not need the jobs to support himself -- failure was not catastrophic and thus held little tension -- his succession of service jobs makes a fascinating narrative full of interesting situations and characters.
Chi Dubinski –
Been Cheever had written three books, and none had gotten published. His economic security provided by his gainfully employed wife, he took a series of low paid, generic jobs in suburban New York. He was a clerk a Borders, did a stint as a security guard, sold computers, made sandwiches, and sold Oldsmobiles. Cheever is an astute observer of his fellow human beings, and the book is pretty funny, to boot.
Dan Piette –
How to get by on your Daddy
Kenghis Khan –
It is upsetting how true so much in this book is.
Kristina –
This is one of the funniest books ever written about the blue collar rat race. A must read for anyone who makes little or no money in the service industry. Wait...does that include teachers?
Ben –
Dustin –
Sue –
Alan Cohen –
Ryan M –
Eric –
Kathryn McMullan –
Kbg503 –
Meadow –
Katie Ann –
R Vacko –
MattA –
Marisa Bowe –
Alexander Truong –
Jim –
Jim –
Kate –
bookmammal –
Tony Hitchens –
Prasad Wimalasiri –
Richie –
Josh –
Colleen –
Michael –
Angela –