For Here or To Go: Life in the Service Industry

By Leah Ryan

A strong brew of resentment and righteous indignation marks this collection of stories, interviews, cartoons and personal essays by service workers. As one waitress declares, "if I died and went to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1891053442
• ISBN13: 9781891053443
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Garrett County Press
• Length: 195 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

For here, to go, or any other way you can get it

What a riot. I LOVED this book. Maybe I should provide a very brief history of my first jobs: My first job was as a dishwasher. Later, I was promoted to busboy, then to cook, then finally to waiter, all over a span of many years. Even if you've only held one such job (Cabbie? Bartender?), you will relate to all of the stories, since really, how many jobs can you name that AREN'T service oriented? This collection of stories is simultaneously irreverent, entertaining, insightful, a little nuts and even disturbing. Actually, it is more than a great collection of stories. This book is also a collection interviews, photographs, drawings and even a graphic short story (for lack of a better description), all relating to one of a myriad of different service industries that everyone seems to have worked for at one time, or another. After reading the entire book, I must admit I am glad I never worked some of the jobs referred to in a few of the stories... That is one thing I love about engaging books, however. I enjoy reading stories that create new experiences for me (vicariously, that is). About 1/3 of the way through the collection of stories, I started turning to each of the chapters that had Ryan's name attached to them (interviews or as the author). After finishing the entire book, I am dying to find other things Ryan has written or edited. Attention: Leah Ryan! Where are more books by you? I need another fix. Attention: Everyone else. Buy this book, and enjoy. Thoroughly.

If you ever feel like you're the only one suffering

Read this book! It's full of delicious anectotes and wry observations about the workplace and the tendency forpeople to treat those in the service industry like servants. Ryan is able to, in a light and humorous way, portray the desperation of wage slaves and their plight.