Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States

Dishwasher is Public Radio favorite and underground celebrity Pete Jordan’s amusing memoir of his dishwashing extravaganza. Part adventure, part parody, and part miraculous journey of self-discovery, it is the unforgettable account of Jordan's transformation from itinerant seeker into "Dishwasher Pete"—unlikely folk hero, writer, publisher of his own cult zine, and the ultimate professional dish dog—and how he gave it all up for love.

“For 12 years, I was the most prolific dishlicker of them all. From 1989 to 2001, I dished my way around the country, unwittingly searching for direction. From a bagel joint in New Mexico to a Mexican joint in Brooklyn; from a dinner train in Rhode Island to the Lawrence Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri; from an upper-crust ladies’ club to a crusty hippie commune—I washed the nation’s dishes. Whether it was a gig so lousy that I walked out within an hour or one where I toiled 120 hours a week, I remained a man on a mission: to bust suds in every state in the union.”—Pete Jordan

A smart, funny, and surprising look at life, Dishwasher is sure to appeal to fans of Nick Hornby and Tom Perotta.

Dishwasher is the true story of a man on a mission: to clean dirty dishes professionally in every state in America. Part adventure, part parody, and part miraculous journey of self-discovery, it is the unforgettable account of Pete Jordan's transformation from itinerant seeker into "Dishwasher Pete"—unlikely folk hero, writer, publisher of his own cult zine, and the ultimate professional dish dog—and how he gave it all up for love.

“[An] enjoyable manifesto celebrating rootless irresponsibility, with rueful acknowledgment of the pitfalls therein.” - Kirkus Reviews

“[Jordan has]...a knack for storytelling,” - New York Post

“The writing is lucid and earnest...Jordan’s passion for dishwashing and...blowing-in-the-wind traveling is infectious.” - Publishers Weekly

“One of the most entertaining memoirs. . . . The book’s exploration of the dishwashing subculture is fascinating.” - Booklist (starred review)

“[A] good story, well told...ironic...worth reading.” - San Francisco Chronicle

"Highly entertaining.” - The Oregonian (Portland)

PRAISE FOR DISHWASHER PETE: “[Dishwasher Pete’s] writing and storytelling skills command attention.” - Boston Globe

“Pete is the Lone Ranger of dishwashers, the troubadour of soap and water.” - Christian Science Monitor

“This memoir has it all—humor, insight, pathos, adventure, travel and piles of dirty dishes.” - Sacramento Bee

“A slacker’s idyll.” - New York Times

“[An] amusing memoir.” - People (3 1/2 out of 4 Stars)

“Dishwasher may not raise your opinion of the average dish dog, but it will help you understand why not.” - New York Times Book Review

“A (casual) rallying cry for those disinclined toward the nine-to-five.” - Chicago Reader

“An instant American classic. ” - San Francisco Bay Guardian

"A humorous page-turner.” - Playboy

“Everyone has a story; some people’s are just more interesting than others. Such is the case with Pete Jordan.” - Chicagoist

“A fun graduation gift for your favorite smart aleck." - Charlotte Observer