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I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

Everything I Wish I Never Had to Learn About Money

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I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

By: Madeline Pendleton
Narrated by: Madeline Pendleton
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About this listen

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A big-hearted, no-bullshit memoir from the TikTok superstar about her journey from living paycheck to paycheck to creating a multi-million-dollar business that offers a compassionate alternative to capitalism • Includes no-nonsense life and money advice, from negotiating pay and building credit to putting home ownership within reach

"Madeline's life is unique yet wildly relatable...Readers will be thoroughly engaged, as every hardship comes with a lesson that Madeline skillfully shares with us. A thought-provoking, mind-tingling reading experience."—Mercury Stardust, the Trans Handy Ma’am and author of Safe and Sound


Imagine a job where you work four days a week and earn as much as the CEO. You also get full benefits, a gym membership, free lunch, and unlimited time off, no questions asked. Hard-won profits don’t just end up in the CEO’s pocket—they’re distributed equally among all employees. The company even buys you your very own car. It sounds too good to be true, but this is the reality at Tunnel Vision, the clothing company that Madeline Pendleton built from the ground up.

Like so many Americans, Madeline used to struggle to make ends meet. Raised by a punk dad and a goth mom in Fresno, California, she spent her teens intermittently homeless, relying on the kindness and spare couches of the local punk community to get by. By her twenties, she was drowning in student loans and credit card debt, working long hours and sick of her bosses treating her as disposable. Then her boyfriend, struggling with financial stress, died by suicide. Capitalism was literally killing her loved ones—she knew there must be a better way.

Madeline decided to study the rules of capitalism, the game everyone is forced to play. She used what she learned to build a new kind of business, one rooted in an ethos of community care.

Millennials and Gen Zers like Madeline are facing an unprecedented financial reality: Stagnant wages, skyrocketing housing costs, a student debt crisis. I Survived Capitalism is essential reading for anyone searching for hope and stability in an unjust world.©2024 Madeline Pendleton (P)2024 Random House Audio
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Critic Reviews

“With punk optimism, cinematic storytelling, and a moral center undeterred by what ‘everyone else does,’ Madeline Pendleton presents the life-and-death money scenarios real people face. She covers class, college recruiting, home ownership, and workplace rights with a brilliant sense of community and warmth.”—Gabe Dunn, author of Bad with Money: The Imperfect Art of Getting Your Financial Sh*t Together

“A vivid account of the many challenges millennials face while trying to make it in an unforgiving economy. . . Illuminating. . . Move on, Jim Cramer. Here’s the real deal—smart, undaunted, and eminently wise.” Kirkus Reviews *starred review*

“A witty and profound commentary on navigating the harsh terrain of poverty, inequality, class, and an oftentimes unforgiving, unfair financial system that all of us are forced to participate in. Drawing on her rich personal experiences and hard-won financial lessons, Pendleton’s path to financial stability is inspiring. This book is a transformative call to action to build a better, more just, equitable world.”—Paco de Leon, host of the Weird Finance podcast and author of Finance for the People

What listeners say about I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

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Incredible story, incredible writing.

Brutally honest and educational, a moving and engaging story. Well written and realistically empathetic, and left me feeling knowledgeable and optimistic.

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Smart and honest

A great memoir and guide to money and employment written by someone I can recognise myself in.

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A Beautiful Story

Madeleine's book is as much an autobiography as anything, and her story is beautiful, tragic and awe inspiring.

Her tips and ideas are US centric, and may not translate perfectly across national borders. But they are also general enough to be adapted by anyone who wishes to use them.

I wish Madeleine and her team at Tunnel Vision decades of success. I truly believe this is an ideal blueprinf with which to run a successful small business.

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Personal & Practical

I loved hearing stories from Madeline’s life and how they all tied in with an actionable concept. Starting a business in an ethical way with other people seems much more possible to me now, and I feel empowered by the refreshing candour. I also have a new appreciation for the welfare systems in Australia, even though they’re flawed - the US is rough man.

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Brilliant, eye opening and motivating.

Great book, worth every cent. a realistic look at getting out of debt in the modern capitalistic world and the struggles that life can throw at any of us. finally something that makes getting out of debt actually obtainable for myself.

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Interesting and thought provoking

Really loved this book, pre order was well worth it. I’ve followed Madeline’s podcast for a long time.

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Genuine, heart warming and inspiring!

I love Madeline’s fighting spirit and beautiful community ethic. She unmasks the ugliness of capitalism and human greed, whilst giving us hope that we can survive, have enough and look after our friends and family.

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