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

I came across this book at our library book sale. WOW. It made me realize how lucky my own life has been. After reading about how Barbara was treated when she was dressed as a maid for a house cleaning service, I began to wonder just how these people cope with how badly they are treated.
I think that every middle class American should read this book, and think hard before they make disparaging remarks about the people less fortunate then them. I have heard people in my own family say, "tell them to get a job", while jobs are not that easy to get, and, as Barbara found out, there isn't much energy left in a day after struggling to get by....

This book has stayed in my mind for many years. It has reminded me of how we are all struggling in our different ways. Highly recommended.

Interesting book. Should be required reading in high schools to encourage teens to get an education to get better jobs to better their lives. Describes the struggle and despair of trying to survive on America's minimum wage, no education needed wages. Good book!

This book was eye opening to the ways many Americans are forced to live. The author decided to try living on low wages of $7 an hour in three different cities. She faces difficulty finding affordable housing and quality food on her low wages. The author had the option of returning to her life when things got tough that others don't have. I wish the author had gotten the views of her colleagues on her jobs rather than just giving us her perspective. But feel she did a good job of letting the reader know what she experienced in her jobs and the difficult decisions she had to make.