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

Oursharpestandmostoriginalsocialcriticgoes"undercover"asanunskilledworkertorevealthedarksideofAmericanprosperity.MillionsofAmericansworkfulltime,yearround,forpoverty-levelwages.In1998,BarbaraEhrenreichdecidedtojointhem.Shewasinspiredinpartbytherhetoricsurroundingwelfarereform,whichpromisedthatajob--anyjob--canbethetickettoabetterlife.Buthowdoesanyonesurvive,letaloneprosper,on$6anhour?Tofindout,Ehrenreichleftherhome,tookthecheapestlodgingsshecouldfind,andacceptedwhateverjobsshewasoffered.MovingfromFloridatoMainetoMinnesota,sheworkedasawaitress,ahotelmaid,acleaningwoman,anursing-homeaide,andaWal-Martsalesclerk.Shelivedintrailerparksandcrumblingresidentialmotels.Veryquickly,shediscoveredthatnojobistruly"unskilled,"thateventhelowliestoccupationsrequireexhaustingmentalandmusculareffort.Shealsolearnedthatonejobisnotenough;youneedatleasttwoifyouinttoliveindoors.NickelandDimedrevealslow-rentAmericainallitstenacity,anxiety,andsurprisinggenerosity--alandofBigBoxes,fastfood,andathousanddesperatestratagemsforsurvival.ReaditforthesmolderingclarityofEhrenreich'sperspectiveandforarareviewofhow"prosperity"looksfromthebottom.Youwillneverseeanything--fromamotelbathroomtoarestaurantmeal--inquitethesamewayagain.