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Cheap Motels and a Hot Plate: An Economist's Travelogue
The road trip is a staple of modern American literature. But nowhere in American literature, until now, has a left-wing economist hit the road, observing and interpreting the extraordinary range and spectacle of U.S. life, bringing out its conflicts and contradictions with humor and insight.
Disillusioned with academic life after thirty-two years teaching economics, Michael D. Yates took early retirement in 2001, with a pension account that had doubled during the dot.com frenzy of the late 1990s. He and his wife Karen sold their house, got rid of their belongings, and have moved around the country since then, often spending months at a time on the road. Michael and Karen spent the summer of 2001 in Yellowstone National Park, where Michael worked as a hotel front-desk clerk. They moved to Manhattan for a year, where he worked for Monthly Review . From there they went to Portland, Oregon, to explore the Pacific Northwest. After five months of travel in Summer and Fall 2004, they settled in Miami Beach. Ahead of the 2005 hurricane season, they went back on the road, settling this time in Colorado.
Cheap Motels and a Hotplate is both an account of their adventures and a penetrating examination of work and inequality, race and class, alienation and environmental degradation in the small towns and big cities of the contemporary United States.
Disillusioned with academic life after thirty-two years teaching economics, Michael D. Yates took early retirement in 2001, with a pension account that had doubled during the dot.com frenzy of the late 1990s. He and his wife Karen sold their house, got rid of their belongings, and have moved around the country since then, often spending months at a time on the road. Michael and Karen spent the summer of 2001 in Yellowstone National Park, where Michael worked as a hotel front-desk clerk. They moved to Manhattan for a year, where he worked for Monthly Review . From there they went to Portland, Oregon, to explore the Pacific Northwest. After five months of travel in Summer and Fall 2004, they settled in Miami Beach. Ahead of the 2005 hurricane season, they went back on the road, settling this time in Colorado.
Cheap Motels and a Hotplate is both an account of their adventures and a penetrating examination of work and inequality, race and class, alienation and environmental degradation in the small towns and big cities of the contemporary United States.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 31, 2018
I love a good travel book and who doesn’t sometimes dream of selling your belongings and traveling all over the country? That’s what I was expecting this book to be, given it’s description. Unfortunately this book had few redeeming qualities. The structure was odd - each chapter starts with an odd assortment of data that you would assume would come into play during the chapter but it does not. The prose is neither travelogue nor memoir but an odd assortment of observations - manual labor is hard; a lot of people don’t get paid enough; people in general are stupid; etc. I could have dealt with all that, but what made me abandon this book is the unpleasantness of the author. He has a high opinion of himself and a poor one of just about everyone else. He complains about virtually everything from his accommodations that were too small for his liking (he even “demanded” a new room early on in his travels) to “tolerable” food. I don’t need this negativity- bailed on the book at page 65.
September 28, 2020
Excellent feel good book for the liberal like me, it is easy to agree with meant of the points that Yates makes: there are huge gaps in equality, too much wealth with too few people, large swaths of racist folk that seem oblivious to their own comments, too many people working long hours for too little pay, government policies that clearly and blatantly favor the already wealthy while displacing and disparaging the poor, the shrinking of the middle class and the expansion of the mega-wealthy and the ultra-poor, and many other viewpoints that resonate well. However, it is difficult to ignore how Yates has literally "frolicked" sounds the country for five years, less working in a lodge for a summer, which he seems to believe gives him an intimate understanding of the "working man's" plight. It is easy to see that a "baby boomer" wrote this book, blind to their own shortcomings and entitlement (demanding a larger, nicer room, complaining at numerous motels and charging back credit card purchases when they were unhappy with service). Overall, Yates espouses the natural beauty of the country and says that everyone should see it before it's gone forever all while commenting how people cannot do so because of inequality. A righteous comment, but not a feasible one.
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July 30, 2019A combined travelogue-polemic by Michael Yates, an economics professor from Pennsylvania who, with his wife, traveled around the country for several years after retiring. Not the most elegant writer, Yates is at his best when he gets ticked off, as in his description of working at Yellowstone National Park (better for my money than Barbara Ehrenreich's portrayals of low-wage labor in NICKEL AND DIMED, a book Yates cites approvingly), his attack on racism in "progressive" Portland, Oregon, and his very funny account of dinner with a badly behaved left-wing writer (unnamed by Yates) in New York. Worth checking out.
December 29, 2009
Less informative and entertaining, and not as well written as say Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed. Love the continual juxtapositions of him talking about how awful/inequitable a place was with what a wonderful time they had hobknobbing, traveling, attending cultural events, and spending money.
January 10, 2013
Really irritating journey that is almost jaw-dropping in how completely it catalogues higher education cliches. All of his insights and observations could only be book-worthy to someone who literally has no idea what life is like if you're not a small town college professor.
October 31, 2008
a good travelogue that hits home with truths about modern US. A little hard to take because it can be disturbing to see what is going on.
August 19, 2013
One of the worst books I've read in a long time. It had a ton of potential, but the author's extremely biased attitudes and constant complaining really made this one unbearable.
May 3, 2014
I started reading this book because I was interested in the descriptions on the cover, but it was not what I expected. Michael Yates is extremely liberal, fairly egotistical, and chronically dissatisfied. He loves the natural beauty of the United States but seems to hate the fact that people live here and ruin it. I was drawn into the book by my curiosity about the author's viewpoints, which seemed rather bizarre to me.
I'm conservative, so I knew I would disagree with a lot of the author's views, but my husband is liberal, and he disagreed with a lot of the author's views as well. For example, Yates seems to think that Cuba is a paradise ("universal literacy, free and excellent schooling, free and exceptional health care, exemplary generosity to poor people around the world..."). My husband is also native to the Pacific Northwest (we live in Oregon), and he took exception to Yates' characterization of Portland's progressiveness as "superficial" and Portland's position on labor and race as "backward and oppressive."
Although I'm interested in hearing viewpoints other than my own, Yates didn't come across as someone I'd want to engage in conversation with. He seems like someone who wouldn't last five minutes before starting an angry rant. Maybe this is why he often seemed to have such bad luck with the people he talked to. (Of course, he always blamed the people or their political views.) He claimed to be constantly encountering racism all across the country, and that it was impossible to avoid. I personally almost never encounter racism (other than in the media, which understandably spotlights it). Of course, since I'm white, I'm unlikely to be a victim of racism, but Yates is white, too! What's causing all these people he encounters to make racist comments? That doesn't seem to be a normal part of an everyday conversation. I feel like there must be more to the story.
Yates spent some time in Utah and had an odd point of view on Mormons, which interested me because I am a Mormon. Mormons in Utah tend to be very conservative (although in my liberal town, there are lots of liberal Mormons), so I expected Yates to be as disparaging toward Mormons as he had been toward other conservatives. I was surprised to find that he actually seemed to have a somewhat positive view of Mormonism, although he certainly had some misconceptions. But he claimed that Mormons consider it appropriate to "shun" those not of their faith, which is not true. I could understand that a non-Mormon in Utah might feel a little alienated, but Yates seems to be under the false impression that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon is a nickname) encourages deliberate shunning of non-members. He gave an example of going to a business for a haircut and finding the proprietors and other customers unwilling to engage in conversation. I think something must have happened that he's not mentioning! He assumed that he was shunned because he wasn't Mormon, but how would anyone even know what his religion was? That wouldn't come up in the normal course of haircut-related conversation. I suspect that he may have done something confrontational that made the proprietors eager to get him to leave. He seems like he enjoys confrontation.
From the jacket of the book, I developed an expectation that the author had interacted with the poor during his travels and would discuss what their lives were like. He did talk about inequality and the poor in various cities, but he was mostly quoting statistics. Except for in Yellowstone, where he took a low-paying job and was surrounded by low-wage co-workers, he didn't seem to deal much with people who were different from him. In fact, even the people he saw as similar to him didn't always seem to like him (the liberals in New York, for example). I suspect that he might not be very pleasant to be around.
I found entertainment value in Michael Yates' personality and perspectives, even though I disagreed with them. I don't think I'd recommend this book to others, though. Perhaps far left liberals would have more respect for its discussion of political issues. For me, Yates was just too out there to be taken seriously.
I'm conservative, so I knew I would disagree with a lot of the author's views, but my husband is liberal, and he disagreed with a lot of the author's views as well. For example, Yates seems to think that Cuba is a paradise ("universal literacy, free and excellent schooling, free and exceptional health care, exemplary generosity to poor people around the world..."). My husband is also native to the Pacific Northwest (we live in Oregon), and he took exception to Yates' characterization of Portland's progressiveness as "superficial" and Portland's position on labor and race as "backward and oppressive."
Although I'm interested in hearing viewpoints other than my own, Yates didn't come across as someone I'd want to engage in conversation with. He seems like someone who wouldn't last five minutes before starting an angry rant. Maybe this is why he often seemed to have such bad luck with the people he talked to. (Of course, he always blamed the people or their political views.) He claimed to be constantly encountering racism all across the country, and that it was impossible to avoid. I personally almost never encounter racism (other than in the media, which understandably spotlights it). Of course, since I'm white, I'm unlikely to be a victim of racism, but Yates is white, too! What's causing all these people he encounters to make racist comments? That doesn't seem to be a normal part of an everyday conversation. I feel like there must be more to the story.
Yates spent some time in Utah and had an odd point of view on Mormons, which interested me because I am a Mormon. Mormons in Utah tend to be very conservative (although in my liberal town, there are lots of liberal Mormons), so I expected Yates to be as disparaging toward Mormons as he had been toward other conservatives. I was surprised to find that he actually seemed to have a somewhat positive view of Mormonism, although he certainly had some misconceptions. But he claimed that Mormons consider it appropriate to "shun" those not of their faith, which is not true. I could understand that a non-Mormon in Utah might feel a little alienated, but Yates seems to be under the false impression that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon is a nickname) encourages deliberate shunning of non-members. He gave an example of going to a business for a haircut and finding the proprietors and other customers unwilling to engage in conversation. I think something must have happened that he's not mentioning! He assumed that he was shunned because he wasn't Mormon, but how would anyone even know what his religion was? That wouldn't come up in the normal course of haircut-related conversation. I suspect that he may have done something confrontational that made the proprietors eager to get him to leave. He seems like he enjoys confrontation.
From the jacket of the book, I developed an expectation that the author had interacted with the poor during his travels and would discuss what their lives were like. He did talk about inequality and the poor in various cities, but he was mostly quoting statistics. Except for in Yellowstone, where he took a low-paying job and was surrounded by low-wage co-workers, he didn't seem to deal much with people who were different from him. In fact, even the people he saw as similar to him didn't always seem to like him (the liberals in New York, for example). I suspect that he might not be very pleasant to be around.
I found entertainment value in Michael Yates' personality and perspectives, even though I disagreed with them. I don't think I'd recommend this book to others, though. Perhaps far left liberals would have more respect for its discussion of political issues. For me, Yates was just too out there to be taken seriously.
May 27, 2014
I'm a sucker for travel writing in general and have a penchant in particular for American road narratives. What makes this one distinctive is the focus on the labor and economics behind the tourism experience.
This nonfictional account features the traveler/narrator journeying to various destinations for jobs after retiring early from his university teaching position. The emphasis is on national parks, though there are extended stays in Manhattan, Portland and Miami Beach. There are also a number of smaller jaunts during and between longer stints at jobs and in rental units. In each case, Yates points to class and racial disparities in these cities and towns, as well as those on both sides of hotel, restaurant, and other workplace counters. Most eye-opening is a summer spent working in a lodge at Yellowstone, which reveals difficult working conditions, low pay, terrible housing, and constant fear of injury and illness among those who desperately cannot afford either. Yates' observations also reinforce many other travelers' complaints that beautiful regions are being continually ravished by real estate and poorly regulated industry.
The book has its flaws. The narrative is uneven, with portions feeling rushed and with a few anecdotes seeming overgeneralized or in need of more explanation. A portion of the end of the book was lifted from an article Yates wrote for the Monthly Review, and while it is relevant to the book in general, this felt like a cut and paste job even before I realized that is was.
Nevertheless, I am giving the book a generous review, because I enjoyed it, learned a lot from it and believe that it good material for reflection and conversation about where our country is and where it's headed.
This nonfictional account features the traveler/narrator journeying to various destinations for jobs after retiring early from his university teaching position. The emphasis is on national parks, though there are extended stays in Manhattan, Portland and Miami Beach. There are also a number of smaller jaunts during and between longer stints at jobs and in rental units. In each case, Yates points to class and racial disparities in these cities and towns, as well as those on both sides of hotel, restaurant, and other workplace counters. Most eye-opening is a summer spent working in a lodge at Yellowstone, which reveals difficult working conditions, low pay, terrible housing, and constant fear of injury and illness among those who desperately cannot afford either. Yates' observations also reinforce many other travelers' complaints that beautiful regions are being continually ravished by real estate and poorly regulated industry.
The book has its flaws. The narrative is uneven, with portions feeling rushed and with a few anecdotes seeming overgeneralized or in need of more explanation. A portion of the end of the book was lifted from an article Yates wrote for the Monthly Review, and while it is relevant to the book in general, this felt like a cut and paste job even before I realized that is was.
Nevertheless, I am giving the book a generous review, because I enjoyed it, learned a lot from it and believe that it good material for reflection and conversation about where our country is and where it's headed.
June 27, 2007
Michael Yates has done what is a little rare on the left. He wrote a really original book. Not that there are any groundbreaking discoveries in it, but it is the form where we see the originality. He writes of his experience traveling around, and living different places in the United States from the bright lights of New York City to the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park. Cheap Motels is like any other travelogue. It has maps, population information, sites to see and even recipes. But what makes is different is that Yates uses his training as a Marxist economist to analyze what he sees and experiences. He exposes the exploitation, racism, sexism and homophobia of the system in which we live in an accessible and often humorous style and from the perspective of living through it. It is a book of political economy and class analysis that is a page-turner. For the experienced leftist some things you will know already and some things will surprise you but it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. For those new to the left this is a great place to start to learn about what capitalism does to people in their everyday lives.
December 17, 2014
I wanted to like this book. Interesting for the leftist, retired economics professor perspective. I came away with the impression of a man of average means railing against not having the decadent means to live as the uber-rich. Why Miami Beach and not somewhere else along the coast?
I found myself asking what is the point of this book? Semi-travel descriptions - there are many much better written and more interesting and informative. Economic work on social disparities in the US? Again so many that tackle this more clearly and fully. Which he helpfully points to at the end of each chapter about further reading.
The style and outlay of the book is confusing. What was his point is starting each chapter with race population and economic indicators followed by a paragraph of what to see while there? Why the list of places to visit in the Pacific northwest (seemed a lazy approach) that does not happen in other chapters. The best chapter was about Portland. The worst about Manhattan.
I found myself asking what is the point of this book? Semi-travel descriptions - there are many much better written and more interesting and informative. Economic work on social disparities in the US? Again so many that tackle this more clearly and fully. Which he helpfully points to at the end of each chapter about further reading.
The style and outlay of the book is confusing. What was his point is starting each chapter with race population and economic indicators followed by a paragraph of what to see while there? Why the list of places to visit in the Pacific northwest (seemed a lazy approach) that does not happen in other chapters. The best chapter was about Portland. The worst about Manhattan.
June 20, 2009
Interesting book. The author strikes me as a bit of an ego maniac but that aside this book has two solid angles to offer. First it is something of a US travel guide. For those of us without unlimited time to see this boundless country of ours 'Cheap Motels ...' offers an in depth look at some of the interesting places across America. Second and likely more importantly, the book offers up one person's insight into the changing landscape of American culture. Yates' chooses to focus is lens on three clearly defined categories: the environment, inequality, and the labor movement. As a longtime professor of economics and significantly editor of the Monthly Review his politics are leftist. His commentary is fresh but not amazing.
All told, I don't think this book is for everyone. But if you are looking for more ammunition in your progressive fight for equality, the environment or labor unions, here it is.
All told, I don't think this book is for everyone. But if you are looking for more ammunition in your progressive fight for equality, the environment or labor unions, here it is.
April 29, 2008
was absolutely amazed when i read an amazon review of this wonderful book, that someone actually expressed disappointment that this wasn't a happy, shiny, fuzzy travel book.
these are not happy fuzzy times and we are not happy shiny people.
unless you are one of the 1 or 2% holding all the wealth in this country nowadaze.
thanks to Mr. Yates for pointing this out.
highly recommended.
(as a Working Person i thank whatever gods are left for still-functioning Unions)
"First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out -- because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out -- because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak out for me."
these are not happy fuzzy times and we are not happy shiny people.
unless you are one of the 1 or 2% holding all the wealth in this country nowadaze.
thanks to Mr. Yates for pointing this out.
highly recommended.
(as a Working Person i thank whatever gods are left for still-functioning Unions)
"First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out -- because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out -- because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak out for me."
July 8, 2007
this dude is a mixture of anger and excitement. not sure if it is a book about his mind or is adventure. i guess i just answered my own question, a bit of both
February 27, 2008
This was like my ultimate book fantasy. A lefty economist writes a road trip memoir. Drool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2011
A great glimpse of Americana from and economist's view. I thought he was a bit negative (and cheap) at times but I still enjoyed the book! I loved the historical facts.
June 19, 2015
DNF @50%
life is too short for this. nothing new here.
life is too short for this. nothing new here.
March 24, 2017
I started this book, but it wasn't holding my interest . I love travel books, but nothing much was interesting here. Decided to not finish it.
April 13, 2017
Part travelogue, part memoir, part anthropology/economics/political science. Interning read. Some statistics are dated at this point. Some part of the book dragged along, but overall I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews