Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Writer Barbara Ehrenreich rose to the challenge of an exploring the lifestyle of America's low wage workers. She left her comfortable home in Florida became alternately a waitress, a housecleaner, and a Wal-Mart "associate." With each job she would hunt up an apartment she could afford on the low wages. This in itself was a challenge; but throw in the need for food and clothing and she realized how stressful living at that level really is. She makes the point that the people in these jobs are hard-working, generous with each other, and smart about stretching a dollar.