Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Registered by Wildflower67 of Bellingham, Washington USA on 8/22/2005
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
14 journalers for this copy...
I enjoyed this book. It really hit home because I could identify with the work environments she describes. Unfortunately it will take more than a book to change these conditions.
Thank you so much for the RABCK wildflower67! I can't wait to read this - it looks really interesting. Thanks :)
Everyone needs to read this book! I'm ready to go work at Walmart and start a union after reading this. It's sad how people are expected to survive on minimum wage (or even a dollar or two more).
Reserved for a bookray - pm to join!
Bookray time! This book is going out in a bookray. Please try to read it as soon as you get it (it's fine if you need to finish something else first, but please don't put it on the bottom of a 500 book high TBR pile!!). Once you're almost done, pm the person after you for their address so you can ship it out when you finish. Finally, enjoy! It's a good book :). If you'd like to join the bookray and you're not listed here, just pm me and I'll fit you in. Thanks! Here's the list:
1. mairbu - Japan, int'l OK
2. pndfam05 - US, int'l OK
3. aannddee - US - int'l OK
4. monkeyflower - US, US only
5. librarymousie - US, int'l OK
6. freesia - Australia, int'l OK
1. mairbu - Japan, int'l OK
2. pndfam05 - US, int'l OK
3. aannddee - US - int'l OK
4. monkeyflower - US, US only
5. librarymousie - US, int'l OK
6. freesia - Australia, int'l OK
Journal Entry 6 by amymaew at Bookray in Kennett Square PA, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 16, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (9/16/2005 UTC) at Bookray in Kennett Square PA, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
sending to mairbu for a bookray - enjoy!
sending to mairbu for a bookray - enjoy!
Received this evening from amymaew, thanks! Will start it tomorrow.
Oct 5th
Have pm'ed pndfam05
Oct 5th
Have pm'ed pndfam05
I enjoyed this book, it was an interesting read. There was a series on the same topic (Des Bishop's Work Experience) on Irish tv last year, but this treated the subject in much more detail.
Posted out to pndfam05 this morning.
Posted out to pndfam05 this morning.
Received today. I am not currently "with book." I'll start very shortly.
CAUGHT IN SPOTSYLVANIA VA USA
CAUGHT IN SPOTSYLVANIA VA USA
I really enjoyed "Nickel & Dimed." I appreciate the author's research and her presentation was insightfully humorous.
I think this would be a good book for anyone who believes the solution is for the unemployed and the underpaid to simply get a better job. It's not that easy.
I think this would be a good book for anyone who believes the solution is for the unemployed and the underpaid to simply get a better job. It's not that easy.
I received this today. It will be next on the list. Thanks.
I found this very interesting. It gives the reader a glimpse into the life of low-wage workers and the many difficulties that they experience. Sending to librarymousie.
Arrived today. Thanks so much!
I agree with you, amymaew--everyone ought to read this book. And I also agree with you, Wildflower67--it's going to take a lot more than a book before the situation will change. Seriously, the reason for the "9" as opposed to "10" rating is for the last sentence in the book where she seems to say "Sometime, somewhere, the workers of the world will unite and all they have to lose is their chains...." Though I know her point was to observe the situation and not to find a solution, it was very frustrating to read about the situation and not know what one can do to help [beyond that which we may already do in supporting our friends and family members who *are* the working poor, writing letters to our representatives in government, and working with the church and other social organizations].
Pming freesia for her address and will send this along ASAP.
Pming freesia for her address and will send this along ASAP.
Journal Entry 15 by freesia from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, February 5, 2006
This just arrived and looks fascinating: I've done many of these kinds of jobs to get through university / travelling. Looking forward to hearing how Ehrenreich gets by!
Journal Entry 16 by freesia from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, February 8, 2006
What a fascinating account! Ehrenreich descrobes how she, a mature woman writer tentatively took on the challenge of living only on her earnings in minimum wage jobs. However, unless you can come up with a large chunk of money as a deposit on housing, you may be forced into "hidden homelessness" - she discovers her co-workers sharing motel rooms, living in cars and trailers, denied healthcare, child care and sick leave, running down their health and unable to save to improve their lives in future. It was moving when Ehrenreich admitted that she was able to keep working through pain and exhaustion because she had always worked out in gyms ... to realise the probable future of her co-worker who can only afford to eat crisps ... The bleak humour also helped, as the author sadly realised that nobody would pick her out as a different, better-educated person from her co-workers, despite her healthy teeth and shoes that fit.
Everybody should read this book. Amymaew has another copy, so I'm setting this one as available to whoever would like it next. Let's keep the ray going!
Everybody should read this book. Amymaew has another copy, so I'm setting this one as available to whoever would like it next. Let's keep the ray going!
Journal Entry 17 by freesia from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, February 21, 2006
I brought this along to my first Melbourne Meetup tonight and was pleased that as I held it up at the table of eager bookcrossers, several people had heard of it and expressed interest! Whoever took this book, you made a good choice! All the previous readers look forward to hearing your thoughts.
I picked this up at the Melbourne Meetup earlier tonight. Pleased to have met you there, freesia. I hope you had a good time.
I didn't realise this book was so well travelled. It is still in great condition. It will probably have a bit of a rest now since I'm quite busy with bookrings, but I'll try to get it moving again in the not-so-distant future.
I didn't realise this book was so well travelled. It is still in great condition. It will probably have a bit of a rest now since I'm quite busy with bookrings, but I'll try to get it moving again in the not-so-distant future.
This was a real eye-opener for me. I was amazed to learn that "tipped employees" such as restaurant servers are only paid $2.13 per hour in direct wages. I knew from my travels in America that they were paid poorly and thus it was important to tip, but I had no idea that their pay was so low.
I'm not sure what the next journey for this book will be. I'll either take it to the next Melbourne Meetup I go to or surprise someone with it the next time I send a bookring/ray.
I'm not sure what the next journey for this book will be. I'll either take it to the next Melbourne Meetup I go to or surprise someone with it the next time I send a bookring/ray.
Journal Entry 20 by star-light at State Library of Victoria in Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Friday, October 20, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (10/20/2006 UTC) at State Library of Victoria in Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Taken to a special meetup at Mr Tulks for Australia's attempt at the biggest BookCrossing release in one day.
Taken to a special meetup at Mr Tulks for Australia's attempt at the biggest BookCrossing release in one day.
Scary to think if it wasn't for my parents making sure I got a good education, I could be doing these jobs!
Ok, I picked this up at meetup in either November or December (sorry seems I'm a slacker and forgot to journal it!), read it sometime in December, found it to be a quite a good read if a little scary! Made me very thankful to be living in Australia and employed in a full time professional position but also made me empathise with all those employees who work in places and who I just take for granted (eg. hotel staff/checkout chicks etc.), although once again being in Australia they all get a much better minimum wage than is offered in the US.
So then the books journey continued b/c I took it along to last nights meetup (17/1) here in Melbourne and released it on the table.
Enjoy!
So then the books journey continued b/c I took it along to last nights meetup (17/1) here in Melbourne and released it on the table.
Enjoy!
Picked up from last week's meet up.
I enjoyed reading this, and was shocked at how little minimum wage would earn you in America. Though not a 'true' test of things, as the author had money to fall back on, it was definitely interesting to read.
I enjoyed reading this, and was shocked at how little minimum wage would earn you in America. Though not a 'true' test of things, as the author had money to fall back on, it was definitely interesting to read.
Journal Entry 24 by kzel at BookObsessed.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Monday, August 3, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (8/3/2009 UTC) at BookObsessed.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to Perfect Circle as part of Bookobsessed Relay.
Sending to Perfect Circle as part of Bookobsessed Relay.
Journal Entry 25 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, August 10, 2009
Arrived safely today, thanks!
Journal Entry 26 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, March 1, 2010
A really interesting read, it made me wonder how similar the situation is in the UK. Having done a number of low paid jobs through university (before minimum wage was introduced) I understand a little of how hard it can be to survive on not much.
Journal Entry 27 by perfect-circle at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (8/10/2010 UTC) at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Rabck. Hope you like it!
Looking forward to reading this book -- have been hearing about it for a very long time!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Journal Entry 29 by 
6of8
at 16th and I (Eye) St in -- Highways, roadsides, and services, District of Columbia USA on Friday, September 10, 2010
6of8 at 16th and I (Eye) St in -- Highways, roadsides, and services, District of Columbia USA on Friday, September 10, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (9/10/2010 UTC) at 16th and I (Eye) St in -- Highways, roadsides, and services, District of Columbia USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Left this on the doorstep of the Laborers International Union of North America, where it is most likely to find a sympathetic audience. Ideally I should have left it at the Capitol where a Congressperson or Hill staffer would find it, but the odds of them reading it or making any changes based on what they learned are discouragingly slim.
I found this book to be a real eye-opener, even though I come from a family of people with a variety of job experiences, including some making ends meet and raising children in very low-paying jobs. I hope it is educational for whomever finds it!
Welcome to Book Crossing -- this book is now yours to read, retain, release, or any combination thereof which suits your fancy. Books registered with Book Crossing are tracked by those who have read them before to see where they will go and who they will meet on their journeys. You are welcome (and encouraged) to create a journal entry on the book, particularly when passing it on to a specific someone or releasing in the wild. You can remain anonymous or join Book Crossing, where you are known to others by the screen name of your choice and no personal information is revealed. Sharing books in this fashion is just another way of spreading good karma across the world. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the book!
I found this book to be a real eye-opener, even though I come from a family of people with a variety of job experiences, including some making ends meet and raising children in very low-paying jobs. I hope it is educational for whomever finds it!
Welcome to Book Crossing -- this book is now yours to read, retain, release, or any combination thereof which suits your fancy. Books registered with Book Crossing are tracked by those who have read them before to see where they will go and who they will meet on their journeys. You are welcome (and encouraged) to create a journal entry on the book, particularly when passing it on to a specific someone or releasing in the wild. You can remain anonymous or join Book Crossing, where you are known to others by the screen name of your choice and no personal information is revealed. Sharing books in this fashion is just another way of spreading good karma across the world. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the book!
