Exit Ramp

A Short Case Study of the Profitability of Panhandling

By: David P. Spears II

Narrated by: Sean Schroeder

Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Have you ever wondered how much that guy with the cardboard sign makes?

One economics student did and he decided to find out. During the summer of his senior year at college, while earning a B.A. in Economics and Political Science, David P. Spears spent 80 hours undercover as a panhandler. Systematically recording every transaction at the exit ramp, Spears captured a rarely seen picture of how modern urban charity works.

This book is the record of his adventures, part economic research, part investigative journalism. Both the numbers and the stories behind the numbers provide answers to the questions we've all been wondering: Who gives more to panhandlers - men or women? What percentage of drivers roll down their windows to donate? And most important of all, how much can a panhandler earn per hour?

Get out your bi-weekly pay stub-by the end of this book you'll know if you make more or less than the guy with the cardboard sign.

©2013 David P. Spears II (P)2014 David P. Spears II

Surprisingly engaging

Where does Exit Ramp rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the better audiobooks I've listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

The author addresses a question that I have always wondered about as well. He does it in a way that makes it a very engaging story, not just a dry report on the results.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene with the girl on the scooter was a lovely image.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could have listened to it all at once

Any additional comments?

The narrator did an excellent job. The book is in the first person and I kept forgetting it wasn't the author himself reading it.

Factual yet fascinating

What did you love best about Exit Ramp?
The author wrote this from the an economic and factual viewpoint since he was writing a paper yet he also kept the human touch. His compassion and humanity shone through as he wasn't just writing this as a student but as a human being. I have a different perspective of charity now. It also confirms my belief that America and Americans are the greatest and kindest nation and people in the world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Exit Ramp?
That's what was so great about this paper. It wasn't just one moment. It was the aggregate of all the many moments that added up that made this such a great story.

What about Sean Schroeder’s performance did you like?
The best thing about the narrator was that I forgot that he was narrating. I felt like the author of the paper was narrating which is the whole point of a good narrator. It's not about him, it's about the content of what he's reading. Good job!

If you could give Exit Ramp a new subtitle, what would it be?
Exit ramp: or how I spent my summer vacation pretending to be a bum and having many of my preconceived notions about beggers and givers completely changed what for.

Any additional comments?
I was really touched by the courage it took author to do this, in spite of the fact that he admitted he was not a shy person.

It was interesting to hear about the growth that he made as he experienced the time he spent doing this,

Really good story

What did you love best about Exit Ramp?

The chapters on goods and services were very interesting. I really enjoyed hearing how much the author made during his experiment.

Which character – as performed by Sean Schroeder – was your favorite?

This was a narrative so there were not other characters. Sean does an excellent job. I was engrossed in the story the whole time.

An eye-opener and a good listen!

Where does Exit Ramp rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the better audiobooks I've listened to so far. The author and narrator mesh very well - the voice fits the character. Very easy to listen to as I drove from Dallas to Austin, Texas one afternoon.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The unsung angel who gave the author $100 is clearly inspiring as was the Ranger vet who verified the veteran's identity. I could identify with both.

What about Sean Schroeder’s performance did you like?

The voice perfectly matched the character - mid-to-late 20s/early 30s. Easily understood and, thus, easy to get into the story.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

People everywhere have good hearts.

Any additional comments?

I hope Spears expands upon the study as he goes through grad school - he may be the economist's Malcolm Gladwell