Nickel and Dimed in America - you HAVE to read this book

[Supermodel]

fairly quick read about what life is really like for folks on minumum wage. I couldn't put it down. You'll say hi to the old guy at the door on Wallmart after reading this one.

Perfect present for any rich, materialistic friends you have too.

[ComradeJunichi]

Nickle and Dimed in America...who is it by?

Thanks I'll be sure to add it to my reading list!

(Edited by ComradeJunichi at 10:33 pm on July 31, 2002)

[PunkRawker677]

I don't need a book to know what its like to live on minimum wage. I live it.

[vox]

Of course I read it, just after it came out I plunked down the cash for the hardcover.

SM, I think you do this book a great discredit.

It's about much more than simple economics. Barbara Ehrenreich goes in to the psychological disempowerment of workers. That's what a lot of this book is about.

Everyone in the States, definitely READ THIS BOOK!

vox

[Supermodel]

Yup, this book should be mandatory for high schoolers.

There is criticism on Amazon for the book being written by an upper-middle class journalist who occasionally shows her distain for the work and lives of the poor. Personally I think this is the only way this book could be written.

If it was in fact written by someone on minimum wage it would have suffered from the social indoctrination she clearly points out in the book. A minimum wage worker writing the book would either have enough pride to say it's really fine, or would have complained and it would have come across as whining.

Ehrenreich manages to emphasize some real social problems at play that keep workers struggling at the minimum.

I am getting copies of this for all my soccermom friends. You have to read this book.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080...7318035-5175255 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805063897/qid=1028208616/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7318035-5175255)