Dishwasher Pete Jordan @ Time Tested Books

Dishwasher Pete Jordan for a reading and signing of his new book, Dishwasher. Published by Harper Perennial, Dishwasher is Pete’s tale of crossing the United States, washing dishes in dinner trains, country clubs, fish factory cafeterias, and bagel joints. But these aren’t just stories of a man and his sponge. Pete’s book is also one of self-discover as well as a great addition to American working class literature.

While this is Dishwasher’s debut in book form, through the 1990s it was published as a zine. The writing is so good that Pete amassed a readership of close to 10,000, a mighty accomplishment for a self-published zine. He also landed a regular gig on National Public Radio’s This American Life. After fulfilling his mission to wash dishes in all 50 states (or coming close to it), Pete moved to Amsterdam, where he washes dishes no more.