The bestselling, landmark work of undercover reportage, now updated
Acclaimed as an instant classic upon publication, Nickel and Dimed has sold more than 1.5 million copies and become a staple of classroom reading. Chosen for “one book” initiatives across the country, it has fueled nationwide campaigns for a living wage. Funny, poignant, and passionate, this revelatory firsthand account of life in low-wage America—the story of Barbara Ehrenreich’s attempts to eke out a living while working as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart associate—has become an essential part of the nation’s political discourse.
Now, in a new afterword, Ehrenreich shows that the plight of the underpaid has in no way eased: with fewer jobs available, deteriorating work conditions, and no pay increase in sight, Nickel and Dimed is more relevant than ever.
Telling the truth This book tells the reality for too many Americans, who don't qualify for the Bush/McCain tax cuts. Sad, and scary, reading.
Excellent, Unbiased, well written and documented I originally read this book when it was first published! I found it hard hitting, have quoted from it frequently and have recommended it to numerous indivduals. I feel her book does not go far enough because, let us be honest, she knew she would "get out" of the circumstances it was an experiement for her, so that kept her form hitting the despair, total desperation, and fear that her children would never have full tummies; this si the plight of the working poor everywhere in America. To say it is not is to close ones eyes and live in ignorance
Inside experience of the agony of minimum wage The most unsettling aspect of Barbara Ehrenreich's eye-opening foray into the world of the working poor is that the situation hasn't improved. In fact, it's gotten worse. The U.S. economy was booming in the late 1990s when she began her project, working anonymously in various minimum-wage jobs and reporting about the experience. Though she steps in and out of the lives of the minimum-wage workers who befriend her, she is a very powerful, effective advocate for them. In her book, she shows that living decently on about $7 an hour (still the minimum wage in most states) is impossible. However, Ehrenreich gives it a try in three cities, working as a waitress, housekeeper and Wal-Mart clerk. She reports from the front lines, where the working poor eat potato chips for dinner and sleep in fleabag motels, and she does the same. She finds that minimum-wage workers lead a dreary existence, toiling away in obscurity day after day with little hope, just getting by as long as they don't fall ill, need dental work or get in a car wreck. The terribly sad part is that many see no light at the end of the tunnel. getAbstract finds that Ehrenreich is a gifted writer with keen perceptions and a wry sense of humor. Her narrative flows effortlessly as she enlightens, educates and entertains. If only she had a magic wand.
nickel and dimed the book arrived in a timely manner and is in excellent condition as described. I will definitly buy again.
Hypocritical to the max! There are certainly many issues facing those who are trying to climb up from low paying and/or minimum wage jobs. However, this author's attitude that all those in this position are helpless victims doomed to lifelong poverty is ridiculous! As is the idea that anyone NOT mired in a tedious, low-paying job is somehow bad and to be blamed for those who are. She identifies with the poor almost pathologically without fair consideration to all involved, including the employers. And I found that very strange considering she is a well paid, successful writer living in a very high-rent area of this country (Key West, Florida) in her everyday life!
She herself enjoys all the benefits of the upper middle class lifestyle, and more power to her for earning them, yet, she rails relentlessly about others in this position and blames them for the plight of the working poor. When she works as a maid for a cleaning service, she comments about how insulted she is by one of the home-owners choice of books! Huh? She is angered that another home-owner has the audacity to own a set of copper pots and other home furnishings and decor that she finds disdainful as if these people are somehow at fault for being successful and having purchasing power, and heaven forbid, opinions and tastes that she does not share. She makes it clear that she herself does not regularly employee domestic help as that would just be, well, disdainful, yet, she admits to having done so on certain justifiable occasions. Really Barbara, you can't have it both ways!!
When an immigrant dishwasher at a restaurant where she works is caught red-handed stealing from the storehouse, she immediately identifies with the thief and becomes defensive of him. So stealing is OK if you're working for minimum wage? Would she have been so protective of the thief if he'd stolen say HER laptop or HER car or HER food? I wonder.
And did anyone notice that on two different occasions, regarding two of her jobs, the author brought up the widely held (and grossly misguided) concept that employers "hold back" the new employees first week of pay? As a human resources professional, I've battled this misconception amongst both white and blue collar employees for years and find it unfathomable that a person with a Ph.D. does not get it that the time she works this week is not actually paid for until the following pay period, usually the next week. There is no "holding back" of any pay, merely a lapse in time in which payroll processing takes place and a check printed. I found it incredible that this author did not grasp the logistics of this simple concept, and instead, clung to the ignorant idea that an employer would actually "hold back" pay until some such future date at their self-declared discretion, a practice that would be in fact, illegal.
Where is the balance in this so-called reporting? It's all and only about one side of the picture. And where are the suggestions? solutions? ideas for a better system? The concept of this book has great potential, but sadly, it falls flat and short of meeting it.
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