Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America
A middle aged journalist, Barbara Ehrenreich notes the obvious gap in coverage on a whole segment of society, the poverty level wadge earners (or the working poor). She chooses to go undercover (a la old school) and see if without her degrees (and a Phd.) and without her ‘luck’ and experience in past jobs- with that off the record, where would she be? Would it even be possible for her to survive financially? She does nothing but strip herself from her entitled position as a middle class citizen and education just to see if she can survive on what millions of Americans aim to survive on. These citizens who give their sweat and tears to work full-time, seven days a week, for the whole year earning a poverty-level wadge in aim to survive. Barbara Ehrenreich decides that now is the time to find out so she strips herself of all her advantages and God knows what will happen.
Accepting jobs from working at Walmart, to housecleaning, and witnessing she is shocked to find that each of these jobs require her to put herself fully into it in order to keep up with the flow, and keep her job. The jobs all have things in common, they are high intensity, high stress, and demanding and yet they are minimum wadge or barely over that. She chooses 3 different cites where she is going to try and make it work- and she soon finds out that just one job is not enough, if she wants a roof above her head she’ll have to be working at least two demanding jobs at a time. She soon realises that she has discarded, along with her privilege so much of where her securities were resting. No longer covered for medical expenses, dental mishaps or even just knowing that she could fall back on her education or rely on wealthy family members for a difficult season- the stress of just getting by is so much more than numbers, it is the heavy weight that one can only understand if one has been in that spot.
I strongly believe that every single person should read Nickel and Dimed, especially the overly wealthy (or those who have that type of attitude) and the working poor, every middle class white, every underpaid minority- this book crosses all the barriers and brings up issues that through knowledge we could change. The working poor is responsible for so much of the upper and middle class’ benefits, but generally they aren’t seen for the work they do, but just as a job, a label- as if that where their dream in life when they were 4. Barbara puts a face on the working poor, a face that you won’t be able to forget even if you aim to. I highly recommend this Nickel and Dimed for perspective, awareness and so much more!
Nickel and Dimed is A New York Times bestseller, and Notable Book of the year but besides all those awards it is really- a must read.
- ISBN:9780805088380
- Author: Barbara Ehrenreich
- Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
- Subject: Poverty, Economic Conditions, Labor & Industrial Relations – General
- Working poor – United States
- Poverty – United States
- Copyright: 2008
- Publication Date: June 2008
Themocracy
I’ve been interested in this book ever since I first heard about it. It sounds like such an important book. Thanks for your thoughtful review.
I read this about five years ago it has totally stayed with me. There are certain images I have never forgotten. Great book, great review!
I’ve wanted to read this book for some time and was lucky enough to snag it off of Bookmooch! (yay!)
I had heard about this book when it first came out..but I didn’t realize the author went “undercover” to find work. That make’s it sound very interesting, albeit depressing, given the fact that it seems unlikely that the wealthy would read this and thus make any changes. From having worked in retail—if anything many times it’s people’s attitudes towards the working-class that is also abhorrent. Barely making a wage and then being treated like crap…like I said v. depressing! Thanks for reviewing this.
The book is also based on a play. While the book provides more details, the play gives life to images which highlight the exhaustion and fatigue that comes from being part of the working poor.
I think you mean that there is a play based on the book. The play wasn’t out when the book came out I know for sure. I bet that would be a great play to see!!!
Sorry Bethany! Thank you for correcting me!! The play is based on the book and is quite good. It is very powerful!!!
Wow, what a great review. Thanks for bringing this book to light and for placing it on my radar!