Nickel and Dimed

On (Not) Getting By in America

By: Barbara Ehrenreich

Narrated by: Cristine McMurdo-Wallis

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

This engrossing piece of undercover reportage has been a fixture on the New York Times best seller list since its publication. With nearly a million copies in print, Nickel and Dimed is a modern classic that deftly portrays the plight of America's working-class poor.

A successful author, Barbara Ehrenreich decides to see if she can scratch out a comfortable living in a blue-collar America obsessed with welfare "reform". Her first job is waitressing, which pulls in a measly $2.43 an hour plus tips. She moves around the country, trying her hand as a maid, a nursing home assistant, and a Wal-Mart salesperson. What she discovers is a culture of desperation, where workers take multiple thankless jobs just to keep a roof overhead.

Often humorous and always illuminating, Nickel and Dimed is a remarkable expose of the ugly flip side of the American dream.

©2001 Barbara Ehrenreich (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award Finalist, Adult Non-Fiction, 2002
• Alex Award Winner, 2002

"One of today's most original writers." (The New York Times)
"A close observer and astute analyzer of American life, Ehrenreich turns her attention to what it is like trying to subsist while working in low-paying jobs....Her narrative is candid, often moving, and very revealing." (Library Journal)
"Delivering a fast read that's both sobering and sassy, she [Ehrenreich] gives readers pause about those caught in the economy's undertow, even in good times." (Publishers Weekly)

Funny AND Heartbreaking

Very informative and insightful look into the lives of the hard-working poor. Very convicting. Some pretty harsh language, but Ehrenreich is a very funny and thoughtful author.

Informative and a good perspective

I read this book for class that I'm taking, and I didn't have to read the whole thing but I ended up reading all of it because it was just so engaging. It's a very interesting and important look into the poverty level class of society and what it means to struggle at that level to survive.

More interesting and sobering than I imagined.

Riveting story! Quite the eye opening look into the sacrifices and behind the scenes suffering of the working poor.

This Narrator Rocks!

I enjoyed this book and the humor the author brings to an otherwise depressing fact of existence for so many people. At first I wasn’t sure about this narrator, but I quickly learned to love how she reads this book. So much character and depth is given by her reading. A perfect pairing.

That’s relevant today as it was over 20 years ago!

I wish every American would read this! Including our law and policymakers, wealthy, and” middle-class!”

I served in the US military for several decades and often wonder what the heck we are protecting if there people working 40 hours and much more a week and not able to feed their families, afford healthcare, or housing. It is shameful! In the meantime, at least we can make sure the next time you go out tip big! Make sure you vote for people who support livable wages, universal healthcare, and affordable housing!

lots of good points

It was well written with the space allowed. the challenges are vast , but many pertinent topics were hit upon.

Still Relevant Today-20+Years Later

This research journalist went ‘undercover’ as a minimum wage worker and clearly conveyed her experience in humane, compassionate way. She opened my eyes to what life is really like for the working poor and frankly, the deck is stacked against them. Everyone would benefit from reading this book.

of COURSE she has an agenda...

The author clearly states in the introduction to the book that she has an agenda, is choosing the locations for that reason, is not actually going to find out what it is really like to be poor, and is privileged. At least she's honest.
That's why the book works. All of the negative reviews are pointing out exactly what the author is trying to get across. And, from what some reviewers wrote, the need for this book still exists.
I find this book to be an interesting look into cultural assumptions and understandings about poverty, privilege, and work that is definitely worth a listen or a read.

A Candid and Thoughtful Experiment

Barbara Ehrenreich is a master of her surroundings. In this book, she offers candid and daunting insight into the world of low-wage laborers. Her reflections are not limited to the financial woes of the poor but expand into their social culture and daily realities.

The detail in this book is helpful at times while frivolous at others, which is why I think the other reviewers missed the point of Ehrenreich's message. Yes, she does reveal the working class conditions of certain professions in Portland, Key West and Minneapolis to demonstrate that they are consistent (and demeaning) in the many different regions of America. Yes, she does demonstrate that the negative side of capitalism is a reality for poor Americans. But that does not appear to be her underlying message. Instead, I think Ehrenreich's point is that people deserve to be treated with respect and decency regardless of their occupation.

A word about the narration: This is definitely a book in which the voice of the narrator must fit the tone and context of the author's message. Ehrenreich would have done this audio book justice had she served as the narrator. For the most part Christine McMurdo-Wallis was able to grasp the feeling and tone of each moment of Ehrenreich's experiment, but at times I found it distracting and difficult to listen to her because her voice is quite refined and sophisticated. (It is rather difficult to tap into an author's point of view as an impostor in tough working conditions when the narrator's voice resembles that of Lauren Bacall.) This may explain why other reviewers perceived the author as whiny, condescending and elitist.

Worth the read

Older book, but still VERY relevant. Hard to believe as a nation we are still in the same place now as 1998. As a public servant, I see first hand resources still have not changed for the better for the working poor.