Customer Reviews

Nine Lives: From Stripper to Schoolteacher : My Year-Long Odyssey in the Workplace

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Ms. Snowden's accounts of her adventures in nine different jobs demonstrate a brilliant understanding of the workplace and its effects on one's identity, while at the same time explaining this connection with a wonderfully witty and dry sense of humor. Addditionally, Snowden's ability to poke fun at herself and her assumptions about various jobs prior to doing them offer an excellent insight into and challenge our own preconceived ideas about upper, middle, and lower class occupations. It's quite obvious the author has a love for language (english, that is) and is thankfully influenced by writers such as Tom Wolfe and Martin Amis. I'm sorry to see her book is no longer in print as I believe it an enjoyable experience for anyone who's ever worked, or dreamed about working, anywhere. I do hope Lynn Snowden writes a second book, and on what, quite frankly, I don't care, due to the fact she could probably make boiling water interesting.

One day a new waitress arrived at the Tropicana, she was quiet, kept to herself, but in Vegas, you don't ask questions; sometimes you don't want to know, other times you just aren't meant to know.

I had no idea this quiet one was an author! The poor girl fell victim to the cattiness of the other waitresses. I want to apologize for what she went through. I was fresh off the farm when I moved to Vegas and spent many a night walking home, crying.I know what you went through. (The town WILL toughen you up in time.)

When the local newspaper printed a short blurb about an author writing a tell-all book I had to get a copy!! Wow, WHAT A BOOK!-PLEASE write another!

And I'm sorry some of the girls were catty, you were sweet despite everything.

This is one of my favorite books to have around and let people read. Lynn Snowden is a most entertaining writer and I really enjoyed the brief peek into so many worlds. Her tour with Skid Row was my favorite since it's so foreign to me. It did crack me up how she had to learn certain basics about office work, such as how you are always supposed to look busy, and the low, low temperatures to keep you from falling asleep.

I agree with the previous reviewer: Lynn Snowden, it's time for you to write something else!

This book is a delight--it's a pop version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, only author Lynn Snowden goes Studs one better: Instead of just talking with people about what their jobs are like, she actually works the jobs! From the horrors of being a housewife (the scariest chapter in the book) to her in-your-face observations of males and their pseudo-sexual behavior (the time she danced as a stripper), Snowden seldom lets the reader down. She is enormously aware of the unimportance of her ego in each job, and she never patronizes those with whom she works. She really gets in there and does the job--with hilarious and sometimes angry abandon. This book is about the nine jobs you don't want your son or daughter to have, but, disturbingly, it's also a book about all jobs and the politics of the workplace. Let me out of here!

--Jim Reed, ...

I'm also disappointed that this book is out of print. I think every kid should read this book since it will tell them a lot more about the world of work than the usual "Occupational Outlook Handbook" assignment given out by schools. The long hours and hard work of the roadie, the jerkish customers and low tips of the Vegas cocktail waitress are just a few things in this book that the kids might find enlightening.

I read this book years ago and was disappointed to see that it is out of print. I've been reading Snowden's magazine articles for years and love her writing style.

"Nine Lives" is an insiders look at certain jobs you'll probably never have. I've always fantasized about being a cocktail waitress in Vegas, but wouldn't have the guts, or the feet, to actually do it. It's fun to read about how Snowden held up and dealt with the challenges of her different jobs.

I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. Snowden is a very talented writer, and if you're reading this Lynn, WRITE SOMETHING ELSE ALREADY!!! I'll be waiting....