Overview
Source: Wallraff assumes the identity of a Turkish man named Ali Sigirlioğlu. Wallraff opts to disguise himself for his experiment. He alters his appearance by wearing contact lenses and a wig to make himself appear younger, and additionally adopts what he considers to be a stereotypical cartoon accent and affect. Wallraff publishes an ad in a newspaper as Ali Sigirlioğlu, stating his willingness to work any job, including hard labor. He takes on various jobs as an unqualified worker, including work as a farmhand, a McDonald’s fast food worker, and as a worker in a Thyssen steel factory. Wallraff concludes his undercover experiment after two years as a result of the physical strain and health problems the various jobs caused him.Conclusions and observations
Wallraff’s conclusions from his experiment reflect the xenophobic treatment and exploitation he faced while playing the role of a young Turkish migrant worker. He underlines the risks he experiences, such as a employers lacking protective equipment for workers, poor work environments and the low wages offered to migrant workers. Wallraff also notes how the laborers are treated like disposable tools and not people. He also included some reports from other people who worked in nuclear fuel manufacturing. He recounts the social isolation he faced as a Turkish man, describing various incidents where individuals would insult, berate or threaten him without provocation.Reception
The book was very successful upon publication, with more than four million copies being sold within the original German run, and being translated into 30 languages and distributed in several countries. It became Germany’s largest literary post-References
{{Authority control 1985 non-fiction books German non-fiction books Undercover journalists