Counter Culture celebrates the well-seasoned waitresses who race to our tables, argue with the cooks and bring humor and culture to the American roadside dining experience. It's a window into the lives of career waitresses who have worked in diners for up to sixty years. They do more than serve food. They are part psychiatrist, part grandmother, part friend and they serve every walk of American life: from the retired and the widowed, to the wounded and the lonely, and from the working class to the wealthy. This book takes a moment to honor and recognize these American icons and their contribution to our communities.

In large cities and small towns across the country the best diners are more than restaurants, they are neighborhood institutions that bring communities together. From the Gold 'N Silver in Reno, Nevada, to the Sip 'N Bite in Baltimore, Maryland, these places are not defined by their menus or decor but by the waitresses who have established bonds with their customers and their communities over decades of service.

Author, Candacy Taylor (a former waitress herself) traveled more than 26,000 miles throughout the United States collecting stories of these "lifers" aged fifty and older who have been working in diners for most of their lives.Their compelling stories are complemented and enhanced by Taylor's striking photographs.

Taylor expected that the waitresses would feel overworked and under-appreciated but she was surprised and delighted to find that the opposite was true. These women said they loved their jobs and, even if given the opportunity, they "wouldn't do anything else." They believe memorizing orders keep their minds sharp and the physical demands of the work are helping them to age well. They generally make more money from serving regular customers and their seniority status earns them respect from their coworkers and managers. Taylor's sensitive and respectful portrayal of career waitresses who have made their job into a rewarding lifetime pursuit turns "Counter Culture" into an invaluable portrait of the continued importance of community in our changing society.