Barbara Ehrenreichs Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America E

Barbara Ehrenreichs plate and Dimed On (Not) Getting By in AmericaBarbara Ehrenreich is a political/social journalist and writer. She is a popular author with a dozen book credits to her name. Her blend ins intromit Blood Rites, The Worst Years of Our Lives, and Fear of Falling. She also has written articles for Time, Harpers, The reinvigorated Republic, The Nation, and The New York Time Magazine. Her Ph.D. in biology endows her with the experience and discipline to near as a scientific experiwork forcet the study resulting in her newest book, Nickel and Dimed.Light years removed from the kind of life she would eventually arrive and write about, the genesis of the book happened during an expensive luncheon meeting with a magazine editor. As the conversation topic drifted, Ehrenreich casually wondered how people come in by on the low wages of the unskilled. some(a)one ought to do the quondam(a) fashioned kind of journalism...go out there and try it for themselves, she e xhorted. She didnt genuinely have herself in mind, but her editor challenged her with a single word, You. The approximation also came in the wake of sweeping welfare reform in 1996, which moved roughly four million women from the welfare rolls and into the workforce. The study Ehrenreich undertook accordingly was to see how she could manage economically in the low wage work pool in which many such women found themselves.To prepare for the project, Ehrenreich gravel up some ground rules. When looking for work she would non yield back on the use of her usual skills as a writer, and she would show the highest paying job while at the same time judge the least expensive housing that still offered privacy and safety.Admittedly, she recognized the advantages she feature -- good hea... ...ess, Ehrenreichs book has received some criticism for its omit of policy suggestions. She does not offer concrete ideas on how to remedy this situation. Some also said she did not avail he rself of the aide that is available.However, the reality is that those who claim help arent magically endowed with the knowledge of how to receive it. In Barbaras appeal for food assistance, it took initiative, seventy minutes of calling, driving, and nearly $3 spent in phone calls, which resulted in about $7 price of food. In California, many of the working poor are made up of non-English speakers or those who are working here illegally. These people do not know where to start to get help or are not inclined to seek it for fear of reprisal.I found the book puff up written and very eye opening to the struggles faced by millions of women - and men - in the United States.