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Ted's Reviews > Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
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Ted's review
bookshelves: economics, history-us, society, current-affairs, beach-serious-nonfiction, women-s-works, reviews-liked, americana
Dec 19, 2011
bookshelves: economics, history-us, society, current-affairs, beach-serious-nonfiction, women-s-works, reviews-liked, americana
Okay, I suddenly got a Like on my non-review of this book, so I'm going to say a few words about it, which I've thought off and on for a while.
I've seen very put-downish reviews here on GR about the book, and more so about the author.
It's held that Ehrenreich was a fake, had no idea what the working poor face, was just trying to make a buck off them, the book totally discredited because she had money and could just walk away when she was finished, or if she got in trouble, yada yada.
This sort of misses the obvious - that her audience was not the working poor. She didn't write a book saying to them, "Hey, look at me! I took on your world and here I am, fine again, with royalties in my pocket."
Uh, her audience was people like me, people like most of those walking the streets of Manhattan hurrying and scurrying about their frantic but pretty well-rewarded life.
She got to me, that's for sure. In some sense, most people with any knowledge of the world and any empathy at all are not surprised at the hardships that Ehrenreich describes. But until it gets shoved in your face - that these people typically work two jobs, that many or most of them have no love in their lives because they have no time for it, that one sickness or one broken car can spell disaster which could lead to homelessness - you JUST DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND. And once you do understand, there is a brand new thing in your life which you never forget, a knowledge, not from personal experience, but simply from a book written with feeling, that YOU ARE LUCKY and there are way too many people out there THAT ARE NOT. And that it might be nice if the society you lived in would try to do something about this, for example a $15 minimum wage.
Thanks for the Like, Teresa.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Previous review: Shakespeare: The World As Stage Bill Bryson
Next review: Six Degrees a public service review
Older review: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer only two sentences, but not a putdown!
Previous library review: The Millionaire Next Door
Next library review: Future Scenarios
I've seen very put-downish reviews here on GR about the book, and more so about the author.
It's held that Ehrenreich was a fake, had no idea what the working poor face, was just trying to make a buck off them, the book totally discredited because she had money and could just walk away when she was finished, or if she got in trouble, yada yada.
This sort of misses the obvious - that her audience was not the working poor. She didn't write a book saying to them, "Hey, look at me! I took on your world and here I am, fine again, with royalties in my pocket."
Uh, her audience was people like me, people like most of those walking the streets of Manhattan hurrying and scurrying about their frantic but pretty well-rewarded life.
She got to me, that's for sure. In some sense, most people with any knowledge of the world and any empathy at all are not surprised at the hardships that Ehrenreich describes. But until it gets shoved in your face - that these people typically work two jobs, that many or most of them have no love in their lives because they have no time for it, that one sickness or one broken car can spell disaster which could lead to homelessness - you JUST DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND. And once you do understand, there is a brand new thing in your life which you never forget, a knowledge, not from personal experience, but simply from a book written with feeling, that YOU ARE LUCKY and there are way too many people out there THAT ARE NOT. And that it might be nice if the society you lived in would try to do something about this, for example a $15 minimum wage.
Thanks for the Like, Teresa.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Previous review: Shakespeare: The World As Stage Bill Bryson
Next review: Six Degrees a public service review
Older review: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer only two sentences, but not a putdown!
Previous library review: The Millionaire Next Door
Next library review: Future Scenarios
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Nickel and Dimed.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
December 19, 2011
– Shelved
January 15, 2012
– Shelved as:
economics
January 15, 2012
– Shelved as:
history-us
February 2, 2012
– Shelved as:
society
February 2, 2012
– Shelved as:
current-affairs
July 6, 2013
– Shelved as:
beach-serious-nonfiction
September 17, 2014
– Shelved as:
women-s-works
March 16, 2017
– Shelved as:
reviews-liked
October 13, 2017
– Shelved as:
americana
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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message 1:
by
Jan-Maat
(new)
Mar 13, 2017 09:12AM
Okay, I suddenly got a Like on my non-review of this book, so I'm going to say a few words about it, which I've thought off and on for a while. we asked for it, so we get it - review democracy at last!
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Jan-Maat wrote: "Okay, I suddenly got a Like on my non-review of this book, so I'm going to say a few words about it, which I've thought off and on for a while. we asked for it, so we get it - review democracy at l..."8 )
You nailed it, Ted. I'm not sure how a reader could view the book any other way.
You're welcome, Ted. And thank you for writing this empathetic review. I 'unliked' it, so I could re-like it.I have to admit that I went looking for friends' reviews of this book once I saw that the Women's National Book Association sent this book to the White House the other day. Your 5 stars said a lot.
Howard wrote: "You nailed it, Ted. I'm not sure how a reader could view the book any other way."Thanks, Howard.
Teresa wrote: "You're welcome, Ted. And thank you for writing this empathetic review. I 'unliked' it, so I could re-like it.I have to admit that I went looking for friends' reviews of this book once I saw that ..."
That's a great list of books, Teresa. I'll probably add all of them I don't already have. Have quite of few, but most of those not read yet.
Teresa wrote: "You're welcome, Ted. And thank you for writing this empathetic review. I 'unliked' it, so I could re-like it.I have to admit that I went looking for friends' reviews of this book once I saw that ..."
Unfortunately, no one now there will read it or give it any thought.
I also thank you for the list. I have read some of them and I have bookmarked the link so that I can add the others.
Howard wrote: "Unfortunately, no one now there will read it or give it any thought."Yes, I'm sure the books are sitting in a corner somewhere, unread. Or perhaps have never left the mail room...
Nice summary. (I'm always surprised when non-reviews are liked, but here's proof of the benefit.)
Cecily wrote: "Nice summary. (I'm always surprised when non-reviews are liked, but here's proof of the benefit.)"I am too. I think it's really a like either that the book was read, or perhaps a like for the rating given? We'd have to ask someone. 8 )
Ted wrote: "I am too. I think it's really a like either that the book was read, or perhaps a l..."I don't usually do it -- it goes against the grain for me. In this particular case, I did it to give publicity to the book and its high rating. (See message # 4.)
I didn't look at the book in that point of view, I agree with the soul meaning of the book as well. But I had a hard time agreeing with her shallow analogy on her co-workers. You're point of view is true that the book is about being lucky, and humbling yourself even though you have the upper hand around the others around you.
Haley wrote: "I didn't look at the book in that point of view, I agree with the soul meaning of the book as well. But I had a hard time agreeing with her shallow analogy on her co-workers. You're point of view i..."Thanks for the comment Haley.
Ted, your review is the best I have seen of this book. Not to brag or anything, but I first read it 11 years ago; then re-read the book a 2nd time.If just one person who read this book has had their eyes opened to the struggles of the working poor, then the author's work is valuable, regardless of real/perceived shortcomings of the book. Moreover, if even one low-paid worker has felt "noticed" as a result of this book, the author's work is valuable.
Colette wrote: "Ted, your review is the best I have seen of this book. Not to brag or anything, but I first read it 11 years ago; then re-read the book a 2nd time.If just one person who read this book has had th..."
Thanks for your comment Colette! Yes, I agree with your judgements about the book.
Doggone gr doesn't have a love button!! Well said Ted!!
Nice review, Ted this book is adopted as course material at the higher ed level
Monica wrote: "Doggone gr doesn't have a love button!! Well said Ted!!"Thanks, Monica.
Tammy wrote: "Nice review, Ted this book is adopted as course material at the higher ed level"Thanks Tammy. Hey that's great that it has been used as course material. I bet that makes the author feel good too!
Yes. I spent two decades getting paid peanuts in a crap job, and yet somehow I have managed to read this book without taking it as a personal insult, or the equivalent of Prince Charles telling me how easy I had it, or feeling that Ehrenreich should have asked me before writing the thing. The slaggings this book has received seem like misreadings bordering on comical. Nice to see it wasn't just me.
Great punchy review Ted, and I very much like your perspective.
Caroline wrote: "Great punchy review Ted, and I very much like your perspective."Thank you, Caroline.
