Rating: 
Summary: Is it hypocritical?
Review: First of all, the person who thought the Buddha scene was uplifting obviously missed the point: the Buddha points out the discrepancy between the poor and the wealthy liberals. And to all the people complaining that Ms. Ehrenreich earns $$$ for a book her subject can't afford, well, this is still a free market economy and there are libraries who carry the book. As for the drug tests: if they tested for alcohol abuse, we would have more newly minted privacy advocates than you can fend off with a free beer. Now on to the review: This type of book runs the risk of being preachy and condescending, which, of course, in places it is. The book looks at three very specific locations, draws some conclusions about the working poor (inadequate housing, lack of opportunity, subservience to management) and that's that. One has to admire Ms. Ehrenreich for even attemting to upset her life and undergo such an adventure. This book provides an easy and quick read. Sure, you can say she is a hypocrite, going back to her life, collecting her royalties, trying to organize a union at Wal-Mart(?) but does anyone really want to live in poverty?
Rating: 
Summary: Poor, Barbara
Review: I read this book cover to cover, just to see if anything of scientific or economic value emerged. The only thing we really learn is that Ms. Ehrenreich does not enjoy physical labor, that she smokes pot, that she resents wealthy conervatives while giving wealthy liberals an pass (she sees a statue of Buddha in a house she is cleaning, so she feels uplifted...a book by Limbaugh makes her plot...warfare against the owner), and that she believes corporations are bad. The footnotes, with few exceptions, cite a plethora of liberal sources for economic statistics.
At times, Ms. Ehrenreich sounds like Eliza Doolittle, spinning off into strains of griping and plotting: "Just you wait, 'enry 'iggins!" ...BR>The book was brought to my attention through the alumnae association of the small women's college I attended. It was required reading for all incoming freshmen...I hope the point was to show an example of bad research; there is no other value here. There are many questions we can ask about poverty in America, but they are not addressed here. Better research questions might include: Who makes it out of poverty, and how? What are the strategies people use to "get by" in America? What strategies fail?
Rating: 
Summary: How to feel better about your own lot in life
Review: Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich:
For what the book is about see the summary above. The book is short and can be read in one sitting if you have time to sit. One waitress I mentioned the book too gave me a very patronizing comment that she hadn't heard about the book but would read it when she gets the chance. I suspect this book does not get read by many it purports to study since reading is not one of the things they have time to do. It suggests the individuals working in entry level jobs for minimum (or less) wage and trying to support themselves and perhaps children and others as well are unable to do so, primarily because of the cost of housing. The clear point is that greedy corporations are to blame. If only they raised the minimum wage until it was a living wage - especially by taking into account the cost of housing, or if better more secure cheap housing were made available, this large group of people would lead much better lives. While some people I know point out that they know people that fit the description of the "nickel and dimed", some even clients, and I am sure there are people in this situation, it has been my experience that the majority of people in entry level jobs are young people still in high school or starting college (or beginning to realize college would be a good idea) and that they are working primarily to earn money they can spend on what they want, not for basic support. For those who are stuck there are lots of reasons and I have no doubt that change in the local economy up and down will make life more or less miserable. I remain convinced that folks like James K. Galbraith have a lot more serious insight even if they are not loaded with comments designed to keep a person from dining out in cheap restaurants or hiring help for around the house. It strikes me that the primary readership of this book are those who enjoy the occasion to know there are many - perhaps most of the working people - who are leading far more miserable lives and that we should be concerned to do something to help them. It reminds me of the special TV coverage of poor people in various parts of the world who need financial help and this TV coverage typically attracts the most donations from those who have the least to give. It is tremendously spiritually uplifting to recognize you are doing well and can help others who are not. Considering the weak impact of such aid especially among those that figure prominently in the video, it is clear to me that non-profit is primarily to the benefit of the bureaucracy that supports it. I am sure that Barbara made some nice change with her book as well.
Rating:
Summary: Open Your Eyes America
Review: Women working 16 hour days for pennies, with not enough food to keep their bodies nourished. Renting motel rooms and being gouged for rent in dangerous neighborhoods... sound like something happening in one of those other countries... perhaps a charity is looking for your money to send to some unfortunate people across the ocean. WRONG... this is happening right here in our communities. Ehrenreich goes to three different cities and sees if she can make it on a minimum wage job. The resounding answer is NO. From scrubbing floors to being a waitress and then working at a mega store with bright lights and little compassion it's astonishing to see the things that are happening right under our noses. Wake up America! Passive reading is not allowed here.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, if you've never worked in your life.
Review: In this book, Barbara Ehrenreich decides to perform an experiment where she will cast off her diplomas and journalistic experience and get a job as a low skill worker in a series of places. She actually chooses to be a Waitress, a House-Cleaner, and then a Wal-Mart employee. She will only live off what she earns, and will not tell anyone about her book until the very end. While noble and somewhat insightful, she tries desperately to insight pity and utterly fails. She tries the typical black and white approach of showing the corporate or owner class exploiting the workers. She provides plenty of examples of her poor treatment, but doesn't provide much insight. Her criticisms are one-sided. She rarely blames her coworkers, or even herself. She complains that the drug tests are unfair and that it prevented her from landing a job. Well, gee, maybe she shouldn't have taken drugs? She feels sorry for a fellow waitress at a local restaurant, but doesn't really mention that it's her fault for not going to another restaurant that could treat her better. She talks with a co-worker who quit college because of a lack of funds. She doesn't mention that whether or not he even tried for financial aid, which, believe me, is definitely available for low-income independent students. One of the worst flaws of the book is that she only experiences the first few months of a job, and doesn't really research the long-term ramifications. I know for a fact that many low skilled jobs offer large pay raises, medical insurance, and even 401(K)s after a few years of work. She conveniently ignores that. She even ignores all pretense of a book and starts trying to unionize Wal-Mart employees. This book is not all bad. When you're finally accustomed to the whining, it actually provides a lot of information. It's cleanly written and flows smoothly. I do admire the fact that this book was made, I admire the effort, and I think it's a book that should have been written. Of course, in an ironic twist, since this book is in trade paperback form, it's largely unaffordable to the people she worked with in the book.
Rating:
Summary: The truth about America's working poor...
Review: Barbara Ehrenreich's latest book, Nickel and Dimed, is a rare gem. Most interesting is the fact that this type of explorative journalism usually focuses on harder-to-see problems that seemingly the public is unaware of. Unfortunately, the plight of the low wage worker is not a problem that is relatively minor. In fact, millions of hard-working Americans are the victims of our own system, and you see them everyday. Ehrenreich does a fantastic job of bringing to light our "hidden" nation of poverty. In a country that thinks of itself as the textbook example of democracy, millions of Americans spend most of their time in workplaces that are "neither free nor democratic," and Ehrenreich proves this superbly with first hand experience.
The only thing in this book that I am personally critical of is Ehrenreich's excessive use of stereotyping. However, I do understand her humor - we need to laugh when faced with hard times, but the needless stereotyping that occurs in Nickel and Dimed is unnecessary at best, and offensive at worst.
Despite this complaint, I recommend this book with no reservations. I presumed that I knew of the extreme conditions that these workers face, fortunately I've never been placed in overworked shoes, so I gave this book a chance and I was moderately shocked to discover the difficulties that these working Americans face on a daily basis. These workers are the martyrs of our ultra-capitalist society, and the very least we can do is enlighten ourselves to the hardships that they face.
Rating:
Summary: Seeking Insight into the Working Poor!
Review: A Ph.D puts down her pen and paper and picks up her mop as she tries to seek insight into the lives of the working poor. This leads her to look for evidence that entry-level jobs, the kind that women leaving welfare are likely to land, and which she points out are dehumanizing. She takes on work as a maid, a nursing home worker, and a Wal-Mart clerk. There may be some merit, here, only I was interested in the follow-up, and how some of the people's lives had changed, if at all.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Interesting Look
Review: This book gave a very interesting look into the working class industry, especially waitressing, I always thought that was an ok field of work, the tips seemed good when I was at a restaurant. But I only had the customer point of view,not the workers point of view.I'm glad I read this book, it teahces you to appreciate the things you have in life.I recommend everyone to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: How much should we Walmart Shoppers tip?
Review:
Lots of the specifics about Ehrenreich's project are catalogued in the other strong reviews -- so I won't repeat what's written.
Nickled and Dimed changed the way I see my immediate, middle-class world. It sharpened my awareness of the inequities and injustices that my middle-class life may depend upon, and at times enable and create. This may sound like a depressing epiphany at best, but the implications are far too important for mere sadness or resignation. My question after reading this book shifted from "What's to be done?" to "What can I do? NOW."
What I'm doing now is writing this recommendation, and buying this powerful little book for about 5 friends...
Rating:
Summary: An eye opening look at how poor America is.
Review: Barbara Ehrenreich decides to abandon her middle class life in exchange for super low wages, and the extreme form of living from paycheck to paycheck. He story documents her own experience as well as those around her, who unlike her have no house, savings accounts, or cars to fall back on when the experiment is over. Barbara Ehrenreich writes a sad story of how millions of Americans have to live in near poverty, and how huge corporations keep these people where they are and make them feel like they are lucky. A great work that shows the true impact of corporate greed on American workers. Highly recommended for any jaded American looking for more information on what this great nation lacks. Right up there with Fast Food Nation and Stupid White Men.
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