Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

A term created by Bob Wells on his blog, CheapRVLiving.com. It refers to an alternative lifestyle living off the grid in an RV or other vehicle on a small budget. Those who take part in “boondocking” often rely upon electricity, water, and sewage hook-ups that are commonly found in RV parks. The term can also apply to living in a vehicle somewhere remote or rural.

Amazon’s work force specifically made up of American nomads who agree to work as seasonal employees at fulfillment companies around the United States. These workers typically work during the Christmas and holiday season. Many of these employees are senior citizens who end up working long, physically demanding hours under harsh conditions for little pay. A number of the people Bruder follows work for CamperForce over the course of the book.

This refers to the Baby Boomer mentality Amazon representatives use to characterize CamperForce laborers. Bruder describes this as “a can-do, Eisenhower-era work ethic that rubbed off on younger, less-experienced laborers” (191). This characterization is also used as a way to boost morale among older and more frail workers.

An abbreviation for Amazon fulfillment centers. Many FCs across the country employ CamperForce workers for seasonal labor.

Robotic artificial intelligence machines used in Amazon FCs. Workampers are expected to work with and alongside the Kivas, but they only work within a certain area. They are meant to avoid human error but in Bruder’s experience, they often malfunction or make tasks harder.

Temporary laborers who work seasonally or for short periods of time, typically for low wages. This term is a play on the word “proletariat,” which is the collective term for a society’s working class, and the word “precarious,” which means uncertainty or instability.

Bruder argues that this new, and mostly invisible, social class called the “precariat” has always existed in America since the 1930s to some extent, but has expanded in the wake of 2008 recession, the dwindling middle class, and the high price of housing, particularly for retirement-age individuals who were unable to save money to retire or whose savings were drained for any number of reasons. Many were working class or middle class Americans whose financial instability has forced them to consider alternative living in order to survive.

An annual two-week gathering of van dwellers in Quartzsite, Arizona, organized by Bob Wells of CheapRVLiving.com. The event is held each winter in the nomad-friendly town of Quartzsite, Arizona, where many van dwellers live cheaply as they wait out the cold weather.

Vehicle dwellers who park and live in an RV in an urban setting. This is considered an urban form of boondocking. Bruder notices stealth campers near her Brooklyn home after spending time with Linda May and others while researching Nomadland.

A position within the Amazon FCs. Stowers push a large cart of items among inventory shelves, scanning items and respective storage bins along the way. This is Linda’s first position as a CamperForce employee.

A business term that refers to the time it takes to produce or make one unit of production output. Takt is used to measure workplace or workflow efficiency.