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

Ehrenreich was a journalist, activist, and author of more than 20 books covering subjects such as poverty, religion, the Vietnam War, the American dream, healthcare, and women’s rights. She was involved with the Democratic Socialists of America in the 1980s and 1990s, and she received a Lannan Literary Award. She won an Erasmus Prize in 2018 for significant contributions to the arts, humanities, and social sciences. In 2012, Ehrenreich founded the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, a media publication that supports independent journalists writing about poverty, with a particular focus on impoverished people living in rural areas. She died in September 2022 at the age of 81. Ehrenreich’s passion for justice and personal experiences gave her unique insights into the situations faced by low-wage workers and those who are impoverished.

Some character traits of Ehrenreich’s that are especially prominent in the story are her strong sense of justice, her wit, and her compassion for impoverished people. The story includes many family and autobiographical details sprinkled throughout the narrative, which create a sense of connection for the reader with Ehrenreich beyond her role as an investigative journalist or a scientist, enabling the reader to relate to her on a deeper level and trust her observations, insights, and opinions.