Nickel and DimedNickel and Dimed
Score Modern
What it's about
In the late 1990s, the journalist Barbara Ehrenreich set out to see whether she could live on what America's low-wage workers earn. She worked as a waitress in Florida, a house cleaner and nursing home aide in Maine, and a Walmart employee in Minnesota, trying to pay rent and eat on each paycheck, and describes what she learned.
Why it's worth reading
Both the New York Times and the Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It's funny, angry and eye-opening.
You'll love it if you liked
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Poverty, by America
Savage Inequalities: Children in America's SchoolsGood to know
Some critics note that Ehrenreich always had a safety net. Its numbers are from 2000.
By the numbers
- Readers0 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics92 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #222 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #948 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1752 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Nickel and Dimed worth reading?
Yes. Both the New York Times and the Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #1,752 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Nickel and Dimed about?
In the late 1990s, the journalist Barbara Ehrenreich set out to see whether she could live on what America's low-wage workers earn. She worked as a waitress in Florida, a house cleaner and nursing home aide in Maine, and a Walmart employee in Minnesota, trying to pay rent and eat on each paycheck, and describes what she learned.
How long does it take to read Nickel and Dimed?
About 6 hours (244 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Nickel and Dimed?
If you liked it, try Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond, Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond or Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools by Jonathan Kozol.