I've heard that this was a really interesting book - quite an "eye-opener" about the abhorrent state of affiars in North America.

From the back cover: "Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity - a land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate stratagems for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perveives its working poor."

While this book focuses mostly on American examples I know that some of the same problems plague Canadian society as well, albeit in somewhat different circumstances. On this note, I plan to read Pay the Rent or Feed the Kids which discusses these issues in a Canadian context when I finish this one.

Call me naive, but I really think that countries really need to take a look inwards and focus on the plight of their own populations before they can feel any justification for meddling in the affairs of other nations. It seems that books like these go a long ways towards raising awareness of some of the major injustices and inequalities taking place right here in North America.

I'm only 2 chapters in and so far have bristled a few times at some assumptions or statements this author has made (ie: she's aspiring to be "trailer trash"??) hmmm...I'll keep going, but with a very critical eye!!

Ok - I'm now about halfway through the book and Ehrenreich's tone has improved somewhat. It is an interesting read, but she spends most of her time describing her own day-to-day existence at these jobs which is not really anything new for anyone who has ever worked serving food or cleaning rooms. She spends very little time discussing what life is like for her various co-workers (ie: those who are not only facing the work-related stress, but also those who have kids at home and who do not have the luxury of having things such as an automobile and a dermatologist to fall back on), which is something I'd hoped she'd do more of. Also, I'd like to see much more discussion about the whys of the situation - the economic, political and social reasons behind the fact that so many people live day in and day out like this. I'm hoping this may be more adequately addressed in the second half of the book.

I found the last half of this book to be the best. Ehrenreich's discussion of her stint at Wal-Mart really began to shed some light on key issues that need to be addressed. She took this even further in her conclusion.

Some key points she made in her conclusion were:

-the poverty levels in the USA need to be considered a "state of emergency" (p.214)

-programs aimed at welfare reform are deemed a success because so many people are no longer receiving social assistance. What is not mentioned in these self-congratulatory celebrations and their accompanying media coverage is that the "rest of the story" is not reported. Sure, people are no longer on welfare and are working - however, the wages they earn at their jobs are so low that people are going hungry and living in their cars. (p.218)

This passage from her final few pages really struck a chord with me:

"When poor single mothers had the option of remaining out of the labor force on welfare, the middle and upper middle class tended to view them with a certain impatience, if not disgust. The welfare poor were excoriated for their laziness, their persistence in reproducing unfavorable circumstances, their presumed addictions, and above all their "dependency." Here they were, content to live off "government handouts" instead of seeking "self-sufficiency," like everyone else, through a job. They needed to get their act together, learn how to wind an alarm clock, get out there and work. But now that the government has largely withdrawn its "handouts," now that the overwhelming majority of the poor are out there toiling in Wal-Mart or Wendy's - well, what are we to think of them? Disapproval and condescension no longer apply, so what outlook makes sense?

Guilt, you may be thinking warily. Isn't that what we're supposed to feel? But guilt doesn't go anywhere near far enough; the appropriate emotion is shame - shame at our own dependency, in this case, on the underpaid labor of others. When someone works for less pay than she can live on - when, for example she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently - then she has made a great sacrifice for you...The "working poor," as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society." (p. 220-221)

I'm doing a book ray with this one. Here's the list of people who will be receiving it:

1.onesmartcookie
2.Bug007
3.marinaw
4.oldreader
5.kiptrix
6.moogytee
7.sejent
8.Atenea-Nike
9.goatgrrl

PM me if you'd like to be added to the list.

Released on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 at Private Release to Another Book Crosser in Kingston, Ontario Canada.

I'm sending this one on to onesmartcookie today.

I just got this in the mail today. Looks like an interesting read. Once finished I will send it off to Bugg007. Cheers.

Firstly, I would like to apologize for not getting to this entry sooner. Computer problems and then other work related things prevented me from doing so. My friend wishes to read this book first so I will loan it to him and then I will mail it to Bug007 as promised.*

Now, about the book.

Basically, the journalist goes 'under cover' to find out what it is like to work in jobs where the pay is minimal. In this case, as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing aide and to top it all off..at Walmart! I enjoyed here sense of humour and realism.

A couple of thoughts came to mind. Comments which I will probably be lambasted for.

I have worked in the service industry (retail) for the last eighteen years and it is because I enjoy working with the public. I am very much a people person. If I didn't like doing it, I simply wouldn't. I guess I get tired of people saying, "I hate my job". Well, if you hate it then don't do it. Do something you want to do. You aren't doing yourself any favors and you aren't doing anyone you serve any favors either. People have choices. Sure, I have days that aren't great but that goes with any job and that is part of life. It appears that there are two types of workers that are portrayed in this book. Those who hate their jobs and wish they were somewhere else and those who like their jobs and have an upbeat philosophy about life in general.

Perhaps this book is so amazing to people is that they haven't had to accept jobs that weren't glamorous and/or paid well or if they did, they have forgotten. :-) I remember when I first moved to Edmonton from Ontario that minimum wage was $4.20 and I was horrified. I also remember two jobs in particular. The first was a job in a convenience store and one of my tasks was to hoist flats of Coke products off flats. I didn't have the upper body strength and injured myself on the first day. Filling shelves and also handling customers were part of my daily rountine. My boss was horrible and I quit the second day. The second job I clearly remember was a dishwashing job in the kitchen of a fish and steakhouse, The Brittiania. I would come home from work smelling like high tide and still remember cleaning out bins of fish chowder with my fingernails. My clothing literally clung to my body while temperatures outside soared. We cooled ourselves by a small rotary fan.

In particular, I loved reading about the Walmart employees and even though I work in a high-end store, I can identify with "In this frame of mind, the last thing I want to see is a customer riffling around, disturbing the place. I want ladies wear sealed off in a plastic bubble and trucked away to some place of safety".
Why do people riffle? Why don't they just ask if they need help and why do they tell me if they are just looking when I look into their eyes and see they are definately looking for something. I know my stock, I know what we have. I am here everyday. If we don't have what you are looking for, I will find an alternative or sell you something you might not have even thought of! :-)

A few points that didn't bring this book to a ten. The statistics of wages, etc in USA. I found them pretty generalized. Also, the first chapter of the book regarding the waitressing didn't keep my interest. I would have liked to know more about tipping, what per centage people tip and if they declare their tips. I have a friend who went to a restaurant and was actually chased by a waiter who felt he tipped too low. The waiter even asked if there were something that was unsatisfactory! I think that tipping should be included in the cost of the meal and the servers paycheque. I honestly don't understand why waiters are tipped but those in retail are not tipped. I have carried parcels to cars. Babysat children. Catered to annoying husbands. Giftwrapped that would have done Martha Stewart proud! Escorted them to the tailors. Delivered to their homes, hotel, etc. Done zips, snaps and buttons. Helped them from their wheelchairs, walkers and even dressed customers who weren't able. Called them about sales. But, its all in my job. Not in the job description but its what is acceptable to me. Oh, I could go on but that would be another book...

Cheers.

I would have gotten this book out sooner but I loaned it to a friend. Who in turn lent it to his Mother. He got it back and then loaned it out to another friend! Geez Louise! Now its off....

Update: Book mailed out Sept. 7, 03.

Actually already read this when it came in the mail last week, so will move it along for the next person in line.

Caught this in my mailbox late last week. Since this is currently the only bookray on my shelf, and 1 of only 4 that I actually owe, I should be able to get it out in a timely manner.
Thanks again to jenny-lou-who for starting the ring!

I'll grant that Ehrenreich's experiment was an interesting one, but I'll wholeheartedly agree with her assertion (made early in the introduction) that she was a poor choice for carrying it out. I would have believed the final results of the person who was a little more street-smart about what she was getting into. For a person with a doctorate, this reader expected much more from the author in terms of basic research. Did she do any basic housing or job research before she headed to the next town? I'm sure she could have saved a lot of time during her first week in each town if she'd done some "legwork" beforehand.

In my opinion, the fact that this was an experiment, something that had an end point, was another reason for the author to not produce authentic results. People who are struggling on that end of the economic spectrum aren't spending $9 per day on fast food when they don't have a kitchen available. I do appreciate the stories and the statistics of the plight of the poor. Those alone, with perhaps a few interviews, would have been enough for me.

I'm guessing that this book is geared more toward the educated middle and upper classes, who might be shocked to hear about how hard life is in the service industry. Coming from a poor childhood (I remember stretching food stamps and free school lunches) and (at one point in my life) having to work as many as 3 jobs in order to make ends meet (my "frivolities" were monthly matinees and green candles for prosperity rituals), none of the working or life conditions of Ehrenreich's co-workers surprised me.
Where is the change in higher pay, better treatment, and respect for service workers going to come from? Pointing out the problem and making many aware of the situation are but two steps in the process of changing the attitudes of employers *and* employees.

Mailing soon to oldreader...

Released on Monday, December 01, 2003 at Fellow BookCrosser in Postal release, Postal Release Controlled Releases.

Finally getting into today's mail to oldreader... Massive and profuse apologies for the delay.
[hangs head]

cant wait to read.starting immediately.

Having worked mostly menial labor jobs did not always agree w/author.Do most certainly agree there is a definite need for higher min.wages and benefits for our working poor. The trip was company paid.no raises for us,he higher ups in the office (whom were all related at 1 place I worked)and all took a week off to go to Hawaii and worked NO holidays while we were required to w/out extra pay no matter what the laws ...,there were ways around it for them...could go on quite awhile on this subject

Received this in the mail today. I signed up for this bookray back in March! Looking forward to reading it, then passing it along.

February, 2004

I forgot to journal on this book after I read it! It had quite an effect on me. So sad that so many Americans are earning below-poverty-level incomes, even though they work full-time jobs, and often more than one job! It is a national shame to keep the minimum wage so low. Yes, it has gone up, but it doesn't keep up with the cost of living. We are not doing very well by our brothers.

Approximately 2/9/04 --
This has been mailed to moogytee in Sacramento, CA.

It's here! Thanks, kiptrix. Will read and pass along ASAP.

I've finally finished this little book. It was not lack of interest that made me take so long; it was just life, business, and another bookray book. Thanks for your patience!

I thought this was a great book. It really made me cringe at times and opened my eyes to the true situation of the "working poor." I think that a society that allows hardworking people to be homeless or live in substandard housing seriously needs examining. I think the situation has evolved from a certain selfishness that is built into American society. Instead of a sense of being "in this together," we have a sense of "every man for himself" or "I got mine and I'm gonna protect it."

Karoda has asked to be skipped, so I've PMed sejent. Will send along as soon as I get the address.

Mailed first class to sejent. Enjoy!

Received in today's mail...will start reading soon and will journal again when I have finished.

A valuable and fascinating study.

Sending to Atenea-Nike in Spain.

Got it in today's mail, and I'll probably finish it in a couple of days. I am very excited to have it in my hands. Thanks, sejent!

Somehow I expected the book to be more... complete, or more of an eye opener. Yes, the situations she describes (not very thoroughly, to my taste - I would have liked knowing more about her coworker's lifes) are sad and not something one of the richest countries in the world should tolerate, but I think I expected more research into the why's and possible solutions of the situation. A more in-depth analysis.

Nevertheless, it was interesting to read, so thanks to everyone who contributed to put this on my way!

Nickel and Dimed has arrived -- thanks very much, jenny-lou-who and Atenea-Nike! And thanks, AN, for the postcard from Bilbao. I'm really looking forward to reading this book -- I was knocked out by Ehrenreich's original article (by the same title) published in Harper's several years ago. I'll have this read and mailed along to the next person within 2 - 3 weeks. Thanks again.

Ehrenreich's original essay Nickel and Dimed, which appeared in Harpers magazine several years ago, changed my thinking about the plight of low-wage workers. Having once worked as a waitress, I'd always been sympathetic to the thankless and exploitative nature of many peoples' working lives, but I'd never thought about the fact that it may not longer be possible to make a living on minimum wage (at least not in the USA or Canada). I really looked forward to reading this book, and I wasn't disappointed.

The material on Ehrenreich's experience working at Walmart was new (it didn't appear in her essay), and for me it was the most hard-hitting part of this book. The point likely to stick with me the longest is that "low, low prices!" aren't free -- somebody has to pay for them, and in this case the "somebodies" are Walmart's employees and suppliers (and thus, by extension, the suppliers' employees, too). Worse, it won't be long before we are all paying for Walmart's low prices, some way or other, since it's literally swallowing its competition, day by day, all around the world. We may feel addicted to Walmart's extensive selection and cut-rate prices now, but to patronize Walmart stores uncritically is to contribute directly to the economic demise of our own neighbourhoods. It's a deal with the devil.

There's a website associated with Nickel and Dimed you can view here, and Canadians may want to check out the British Columbia Federation of Labour's Six Bucks Sucks site. See also the UFCW's Wal-mart Workers Canada site.

INTERNATIONAL BOOKRAY CONTINUES!

Rules of this bookray:
1. This is an international bookray -- if you join, you must be willing to ship anywhere.
2. Please journal the book when you receive it, and again when you mail it out -- that way, everyone will know the book's approximate location.
3. If you don't think you'll be able to read this book within a reasonable time of receipt, please let me know before it's sent to you by the previous reader, and I'll be happy to move your name down the list.
4. Whether you have read the book or not, please do not keep it longer than six weeks. Thanks!

Participants:
1. mysterylady36 - Ashland, Missouri, USA - rec'd October 20, 04; mailed October 26, 04.
2. BigBird2002 - Higley, Arizona, USA - rec'd November 1, 04; mailed December 15, 04.
3. Ann32 - Douglas, Alaska, USA - rec'd January 15, 05; mailed February 5, 05.
4. calicocollie - Rochester, New York, USA - rec'd February 9, 05; mailed February 21, 05.
5. LeafOfHumanTree - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - rec'd March 05; mailed March 31, 05.
6. grooble - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia - rec'd April 4, 05; mailed June 15, 05.
7. daemonwolf - Leeds, England, UK - rec'd June 21, 05; mailed July 25, 05.
8. jaenelle - Alta Vista, Kansas, USA - rec'd July 30, 05.
9. WIAPilot - Tucson, Arizona, USA

Arrived safely. Thanks!

I really wasn't too surprised by any of the information in this book. I found it interesting, but wished she had gone into a little more detail about some of her co-workers.

It definitely makes me appreciate the work that people do in Wal-Mart and other industries that I haven't worked in. I flunked waitressing many years ago, so I know just how hard that one is!

The only thing that really bothered me about this was when she talked about getting assistance from different charitable organizations or government agencies. I realize that she was doing research, but the bottom line is that she really didn't need the resources and her receiving them took them away from someone who really did need them.

Mailed to BigBird2002 today.

This book arrived in the mail today. I am looking forward to reading it, but I do have one other bookring in front of it. I can't wait to read the part about Wal-Mart as I worked there about 10 years ago. Funny, when I was re-entering the workforce earlier this year I went back to Wal-Mart to apply as I knew I was qualified. The starting pay now is not much different than it was then. Scary.

I really enjoyed this book right from the beginning. I did not, however, like the author's tone. I don't know exactly what made me feel this way, but I felt like she looked at this as some kind of game rather than research. I think I learned a lot, and I definately did a lot of thinking as I read this book.

After several attempts to reach the person after me on the ring I have moved on to the person that was next. I am sorry for the delay. I just wanted to give plenty of time for the person to respond. This book will be traveling to Ann32. Thank you!

Coming home after an extended vacation, I found this book in my large pile of mail. I'm looking forward to reading this one. I'll read it asap, and send it on.

I enjoyed this book. It is a nice mix of interesting stories and solid facts/research. Ehrenreich did a great job of infusing her personality into the book, while telling the story of the working poor in America. While not a perfect "experiment," it was a human one. I'd highly recommend it, especially to those fortunate enough never to have experienced this type of life themselves.

With a recent snowstorm and my relative inexperience driving in ice and snow, I decided to take the bus one day last week. With Nickel and Dimed still fresh in my mind, it made my experience an interesting one. The book reminded me that while I was sitting on the bus almost as a lark, there's a good percentage of our population that relies on public transportation.

Young mothers and fathers were lugging children, strollers, and grocery bags, coordinating them all with an ease that showed much practice. Older riders were coordinating canes, bags and bus schedules. MIddle-aged workers were clearly settling in to go to work, some with vacant or resigned looks about them. As a car-owner, I realized that I often take my mobility for granted. I am used to getting in my car to go to any location I desire. Without a car, people have to coordinate bus schedules, bus routes, and work schedules. I'm sure all of these things make it even more difficult to look for a job, as well as find a job that is close to a bus route and begins/ends within the bus schedule. An extremely difficult task if you live in the many American towns and cities that have limited public transportation.

While I've long emphathize with the plight of the poor in this world, Barbara Ehrenreich helped me see it in a new light, and I'm happy to have read her book.

I mailed this book to calicocollie on Saturday, Feb 5th. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Arrived in today's mail -- thanks! I just finished my previous book, so this is up now.

Updated 2/13/05: Just finished reading. This was an interesting book. As an RN in a large hospital, I meet people from all walks of life, so nothing in here came as a complete shock to me, but the book painted a vivid picture of some of the struggles people experience.

I have PM'd SCRAM33 for the next address.

SCRAM33 replied to my PM asking to be skipped, so I'm PM'ing LeafOfHumanTree.

Updated 2/21/05: Mailing to LeafOfHumanTree today -- enjoy!

The media loves stories about poor people working their way 'up'; this book is about the majority whose lives grind away in anonymity. Ehrenreich manages to make an account of doing under-paid drudge work interesting, and sometimes even funny in her asides about the gap between the aspirational capitalist dream and her (temporarily) blue-collar reality. I suspect, sadly, that Ehrenreich will only be preaching to the converted; those who believe capitalism is a meritocracy and that anyone who's prepared to work hard can elevate themselves won't read this wonderful book. Since the Howard government plans to over-ride the State governments' labour laws and introduce a low national minimum wage, Australians should read this book. Ehrenreich charts the social disaster we are headed towards. It's not enough to read this book and feel grateful if you are better off than the people described in this book; the fortunate have to contribute to the social contract and demand minimum wage laws that give people access to health care and proper housing, not just enough cheap food to power them from a dorm bed to work and an early death. Ehrenreich makes it clear that the official measurements of poverty are deceptive. The ability to afford food is not an adequate measure in itself, especially when the very cheapest food is often not nutritious and shelter eats up a bigger portion of a person's wage. "When someone works for less pay than she can live on - when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently - then she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life." Nickel and Dimed is horrifying, funny, shaming, insightful and powerful. I hope this book travels far.

extremely interesting as I didn't know much about the poverty line issues in the U.S. (it doesn't hit the papers here) Also pertinent as the Aussie government is about to demonise single parents here too. I have my interview with centrelink next week.

Thanks to all for the chance to read this book! It got here yesterday (April 4, 2005) and I read it straight away.

posted on today - sorry for the long delay.

Received today - many, many thanks!

My reviews and book musings can be found on my website, Alex in Leeds.

RELEASE NOTES:

This book is checking in from Kansas. I'm a few pages into it; I only got it today.

While I found this book interesting and acknowledge that it was a valid experiment, I didn't think it was very realistic -- the author had so many advantages over most of her coworkers -- a car, medical care, an emergency fund, and most of all, the fact that she was getting out of this situation in a few months, unlike most of the others, who are pretty much gonna be stuck there. I thought she was very naive about what life is like for these people, and I thought her tone was, overall, quite condescending.

I remember being specifically offended by two things, although I'm sure there are more that I don't remember:

1. the trailer trash comment. I *am* trailer trash, according to her. I happen to just think of it as my HOME.

2. The many weight/appearance-related comments. Judging from her photo on the back of the book, she doesn't look exactly too glamorous herself.

My husband expressed interest in reading this; I'll ask him if he really wants to, and if he can finish it soon. If so, he can read it. If not, on it goes to the next person.

This will be on its way to the next reader as soon as I get their address, and once we get the next paycheck. Being poor is no fun! :(