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

Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America is a book written by American journalist and author Barbara Ehrenreich. Published in 2001, Nickel and Dimed tells Ehrenreich's first-person account of her experience working undercover as a minimum-wage laborer in different industries across the United States. Throughout her journey, she strives to support herself on a low minimum-wage salary.

To complete her goal, Ehrenreich starts her journey in Key West, Florida working as a waitress. From there, Ehrenreich goes on to work in homes for the elderly in Portland, Maine, as a hotel maid in the Colorado Rockies, and on a cleaning crew in Minnesota. Through various job experiences, Ehrenreich highlights the incredible hardships of low-wage workers.

Ehrenreich finds that making ends meet on a minimum-wage salary is incredibly difficult and often requires complete dedication of time and energy. Ehrenreich finds long hours, difficult tasks and nonstop labor are the staples of working class life. In addition to the physical hardships of the job, Ehrenreich discovers the psychological toll of maintaining a low-income job. She encounters rampant lack of respect for employees, and a casual disregard for safety regulations.

Through her experiences, Ehrenreich discovers that the American economy is not working for everyone. She finds rampant inequality between the rich and the poor, where the wealthy can enjoy tech gadgets and comfortable lifestyles while the poor struggle to survive. Ehrenreich's investigation provides an often overlooked look into the lives of working-class Americans.

In her conclusion, Ehrenreich proposes policy changes, such as a higher minimum wage, to help the working class and support their right to a safe, dignified living. She argues that the current system leaves millions of Americans without jobs or living in poverty, while they are expected to struggle and survive without a social safety net.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is a powerful and thought-provoking look into the lives of low-wage workers. Through personal accounts and research, Ehrenreich captures the struggles and realities of everyday working-class life in America. The book is an eye-opening look into the struggles of the American working class, and a thought-provoking call for policy change.