Nickel and Dimed

Acclaimed as an instant classic upon publication, Nickel and Dimed has become a staple of classroom reading. Chosen for “one book” initiatives across the country, it has fueled nationwide campaigns for a living wage. Funny, poignant, and passionate, this revelatory firsthand account of life in low-wage America—the story of Barbara Ehrenreich’s attempts to eke out a living while working as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal‑Mart associate—has become an essential part of the nation’s political discourse.