Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

A detailed Summary of Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Barbara Ehrenreich's book, Nickel and Dimed has brought many aspects of what the New York Times calls, "the working poor" to the center. She sheds light on a class many of us never really stop to think about and gives us an all access backstage pass to their everyday life. I mean, how many people actually wonder where their waitress lives, or how much the cook at McDonalds can afford to eat? Honestly, before this book I never gave it much thought. When I told my grandmother what Ehrenreich was doing, she couldn't understand why she was doing such a thing. "It's clear that a man who fries french fries for a living can't support himself, let alone a family," she said. To really understand what these people are going through, you have to pay attention. Unfortunately, most of us don't. Most of us never even give it a thought. You simply find comfort in the thought that they get by somehow don't they? Yes indeed they do, but I wonder if people think of what that somehow is. It's having 2 or 3 jobs,

yearning to have someone point it out with praise. I believe Barbara wants us to see that all these myths and assumptions about the working poor need to go right out the window. She takes us on a journey in their shoes, and at the end of the day I have an all new respect for them. Admittedly, I don't know if I could do what they do. She tries to express to us just what these people go through, and she conveys this by casting herself in the role as "Barb." She is daring us to think outside the box. Forget what you've always believed to be true, and figure out the truth for yourself. I think if we did that, we'd all be a little better for it.

cleaning a hotel room and you wonder if it matters to them whether or not they do a good job. You think how could anyone care if they made a good burger or not? But it is my belief that everybody has a need to be proud of something. No matter how small it may seem. Even Ehrenreich admits that even though it would be easier if she didn't, she cares. There

Some common words found in the essay are:
York Times, Nickel Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich's, understand people,

Approximate Word count = 673
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

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