Canned: How I Lost Ten Jobs in Ten Years and Learned to Love Unemployment

@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
April 1, 2016 9:42am CST
I do not know how this book ends up in the national library in Singapore. I have the great fortune (or "misfortune") to pick up this book, Canned: How I Lost Ten Jobs in Ten Years and Learned to Love Unemployment, written by Franklin Schneider. This book is a great read though not the kind of books that your parents want you to read. If you take it positively, you will see a man who values happiness over money. Franklin Schneider does not want to stay on a job just for the sake of making money. He will do anything to get himself fired from the job because he will get unemployment benefit. When the manager of an arcade game store cut his hour instead of firing him, he schemed to eat so much food that he vomited out the food on the manager. He was duly fired! This just goes to show his intelligence. On the negative side, you can say that he is a bad influence on others. He never thinks about contributing to society or to earn to support his family. Many people stay on a job they hate because they have to support their families. Image credit to Amazon.com
8 people like this
11 responses
• United States
2 Apr 16
A lot of people do not like working, not that surprised. I used to work with a woman, who had one fall too many , and was always out on disability , until she won a big law suit.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
2 Apr 16
This kind of money will not last. I think sooner or later she will spend all her money or her family will spend it for her. It is stupid to hurt herself just to get money.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
3 Apr 16
@CookieMonster46 How did she even manage to get all the freebies as an illegal? Over here, she would get free accommodation when they send her to jail!
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Apr 16
@scheng1 it is, but some are happy living like this, or get handouts in other ways. Example here they have food banks, any one in need can go get canned foods, or other things blankets etc ,so they get things free, they don't have to buy. My neighbor is an illegal, she gets free eye glasses, medical and free foods that are passed out and doesn't have to work
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
2 Apr 16
maybe he wouldn't if he lived where there are no unemployment benefits.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
2 Apr 16
@scheng1 probably no welfare and other benefits in africa, too.
@TheHorse (218957)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Aug 17
@scheng1 No Unemployment Benefits in Singapore?
@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
2 Apr 16
That's right. You won't always get benefits if they find in favor of the employer.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
1 Apr 16
This book is sending a bad message.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
2 Apr 16
That is why I wonder why the library in my country has it. We are known as a very competitive country for work, and the government wants us to work very hard.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218957)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Aug 17
@scheng1 My motivation to work hard comes from within.
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
The part about valuing happiness over money is okay, but I don' think I admire the way he goes about it.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
2 Apr 16
He is not the kind of person to have a family commitment. I think his parents better have enough savings. They will starve if they have to rely on him for support.
1 person likes this
@AkoPinay (11542)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
In the Philippines, there is no unemployment benefit if you are fired.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
3 Apr 16
We do not have it in Singapore too.
1 person likes this
@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
2 Apr 16
Best to stay in a job you don't like until you get what you want. Gotta feed the chilluns. To keep quitting jobs will catch up with you 'til u have to work somewhere, anywhere in a job you really don'y like. Best to start a business, freelance and find something you like to do.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
3 Apr 16
The only thing he likes is to write. According to the book, he contributes to the Washington City Paper. i must say that his work attitude is very bad. If he can avoid doing work, he will do so.
@shaggin (72146)
• United States
1 Apr 16
I can see people who work really hard getting a break now and then by being unemployed if say there is less work at that company for awhile. I can see them enjoying the break but I think this guy really is over the top. I think that based on this book he should be not allowed to claim unemployment anymore as he is clearly using the system. I cannot believe he would vomit on his manager. That is disgusting completely and rotten.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
2 Apr 16
He has been on many years of unemployment. When the economy was very bad in 2009 and a few years after, he literally took 3 years off work and relied on unemployment checks. In every society, there are people like him, but not many dare to write a book about it. Though I agree with many things he say about work, I cannot agree with his attitude. No matter how bad a boss is, when a job pays you money, you just have to listen to your boss and takes instruction from him.
@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
1 Apr 16
I much rather see a person who wants to contribute to society and help earn money to support their family.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
1 Apr 16
Even if the person has no need of money, it is still better for him to work for charity and contribute to society.
@marguicha (223133)
• Chile
1 Apr 16
That man is pitiful although I donĀ“t like to work as a duty. We all should be able to work in something we like.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
1 Apr 16
His problem is that he does not take instruction well. When he does not agree with his boss, he will argue with his boss, and refuses to do it.
• Philippines
2 Apr 16
In my opinion you grow older when you work and work with out any breaks.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
2 Apr 16
Do you mean you want to get fired from ten jobs? He does not want to resign, because he will lose the unemployment benefit. So he makes it in such a way that the companies have to fire him.
@TheHorse (218957)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Aug 17
I assume the book was written to be funny. Was it funny?