Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

Barbara Ehrenreich decided to see what it was like to see the underside of the American Dream by working a number of lower paying jobs in America. I read this book about two years ago and it is still with me, I have started leaving money for the people who clean my hotel rooms, and otherwise trying to help solve the inequities of the system that we work under in society. With what is happening now in the economy, this book is even more important today given that as the money system fails, we need to understand the ways that people have to live.

What is interesting are the jobs that were taken, a house cleaning person, Wal-Mart, and being a waitress. It was impossible for her to make ends meet on those incomes. Not that she did not try, but the numbers did not work out, they cannot work out, they will never work out until we as a society work out the cost of living here. Probably the most stunning was the housekeeper story, that one has the most impact of all the stories. That alone makes you realize how hard it can be for people to empathize with each other, you can just see the look on the person's face who is complaining about the service, when the service was excellent.

What was also striking about the house cleaner story was the camaraderie of the women involved in the job. They helped each other despite all the things that were thrown at them. They showed an exemplary example of teamwork and caring for each other knowing that few else would care. In all this is a powerful testament to people, the people who work in the hidden jobs who we do our best to ignore but rely on. After reading this book, you will find that you tip better, that you care a bit more, and you will understand that the lowest price is not always something you want to go for. Compelling and readable, this is one of those stories that will change your life. Give it five of five stars, it is an eye opening story.

aPPEEARS TO BE A GREAT BOOK WHIHCH MY WIFE IS USING FOR HER MSW STUDIES.

I'm glad this book was written and has been so widely read. People need to know this stuff. However, I didn't find it an enjoyable read, and not because of the depressing subject matter. Ehrenreich's attitude bugged me. The moment that disgusted me most? When she mentions casually how she allowed herself a handful of tapes, then lists the artists - just so we all admire her musical tastes. I bet if she listened to Celine Dion and Hanson, she wouldn't feel it was germane.

I had heard of this book for several years prior to finding it the thrift store. I'm very glad I didn't pay full price and I'm happy to see lots of cheap copies here so that you can read the book and get your curiosity satisfied.

Basically a woman with a PhD sets out to see if and how she could earn a living and maintain herself with minimum wage jobs. Unfortunately, no matter what she did, she could never bypass the fact that she always had her 'real' life and bank account to fall back on. Unless you are truly in the position of having to make ends meet on minimum wage without any Plan B can you understand what it is like to live on minimum wage. I know as I have done it. It is possible to live on minimum wage, and actually enjoy your life. At the end of the month, she would pick up and head off to another part of the country and set herself up in another minimum wage job. Most people in these circumstance don't pull up stakes and move every month. They can't afford to. Moving is an expensive endeavor even for those with a 'normal' sized paycheck. She would complain in the book about not having adequate cooking facilities and so she was buying food at fast food joints on a daily basis instead of going to a grocery store and stocking up on items that could be used with an ice chest for refridgeration for sandwich supplies. Peanut butter and jelly are a whole lot cheaper and better for you than fried chicken every day. She even continued to smoke which of course was just burning up her money.

Yes, it is extremely hard to live on minimum wage and even more so when the economy is in a nose dive like now, but it has always been hard for the very lowest of wage earners and always will be. But jumping into and out of jobs at will doesn't really give you an accurate view of these people's lives and that is where her experience and book failed.

I agree with most people who read this book in saying that Barbara only gave us a glimpse into the world of minimum wage and trying to *live* on it. Skimmed the surface, so to speak. Even though, I enjoyed the book and thought it was well put together.

Was there a lot left out that should have been included, YES. Did that make this a horrible book, NO. But delving deeper would have made it a much better book and possibly more respected in the community.

We get to see Barb take on 3 minimum wage jobs in 3 towns in the US. Technically it was more jobs because most times she had to take a second job to live. We get to meet her co-workers, but not very indepth. She makes a strong case that I think we all know anyway, which is that it's impossible to live on minimum wage in this country and that often these jobs are the hardest working jobs you may ever hold...

Overall I'd recommend it. I'm sure there are some people, who like me, it might open your eyes a little wider and you might judge others less, or have more compassion/understanding for people in these situations. We read it in my book group and I thought it provided EXCELLENT discussion!