Super Short Summary

In Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Barbara Ehrenreich undertakes a social experiment to determine if one can survive on low-wage jobs across three cities: Key West, Portland, and Minneapolis. She documents her experiences working as a waitress, dietary aide, house cleaner, and Wal-Mart clerk, highlighting the challenges of low pay, strenuous labor conditions, and insufficient living arrangements. The book addresses themes of economic disparity and the exploitation of low-wage workers. The book discusses drug tests and personality tests during the hiring process.