Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, is compelling work of immersive journalism that describes the lives of nomadic workers who travel from one temporary job to another to make ends meet, representing an increasing population of migrant workers living just this side of homelessness. Join award-winning author and journalist, Jessica Bruder, in conversation with economist Todd Sorensen, as they discuss this 2020 Nevada Reads book, a critique of our current economy, and a celebration of human resourcefulness and resilience. An audience Q+A will follow the talk.
Jessica Bruder is an award-winning journalist whose work focuses on subcultures and the dark corners of the economy. She has written for Harper’s Magazine, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Bruder teaches narrative storytelling at Columbia Journalism School and lives in Brooklyn with her dog, Max.
Todd Sorensen is a labor economist who studies topics such as immigration, demographic change, and firm wage setting power over workers. He grew up in Seattle and received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University in 2002 and his PhD in 2007 from the University of Arizona. He began his career at the University of California, Riverside, where he worked for seven years. Todd joined the University of Nevada, Reno in 2014 as an Assistant Professor; he will be promoted to Associate Professor next academic year.
Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder is available for purchase at Sundance Books and Music in Reno and The Writer's Block in Las Vegas.
This program is part of the “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils. The initiative seeks to deepen the public’s knowledge and appreciation of the vital connections between democracy, the humanities, journalism, and an informed citizenry. It is also supported by Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and Renown Health.