99% Perspiration is an exploration of American work culture and how it relates to the American Dream. It is, overall, an easy to follow read but I do wish more interviews were included.

I like the author's voice, and the stories from his travels, when discussing the American Dream and working for a living. It helps soften the blow of being reminded that Western Europeans get a minimum of 30 days off per year, compared to the 10-12 or so that Americans get for federal holidays. I thought I would walk away from this book feeling worse about living in America, wondering who is the actual star country to follow, and if I should just give up work in a high-cost of living (HCOL) city, forfeiting using all the skills and education degrees I've attained, in favor of going to a random low-cost of living (LCOL) country and becoming a full-time animal shelter caretaker. I still walked away thinking about that last part, but with less urgency than I am used to. This is an important book to take the time and read, and I hope you walk away with insights on how you envision your working life in the next 5-10 years in America, especially if you don't have the means or the lack of obligations to say, "fuck it, I'm going hermit."

An impeccably-researched, sobering and often funny look at American work culture, written with a love for the country and its inhabitants.