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Response/Criticism

In response to Nickel and Dimed, Adam Shepard conducted an experiment which he later wrote about in his book Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream. A February 11, 2008 article in The Christian Science Monitor summarizes his story ^[1]. According to the article, Shepard began his experiment living in a homeless shelter with $25. His goal was to have a job, a car, a furnished apartment, and $2,500 in savings within a year. Although he had a college degree, he would not mention it, or use any of his contacts, in trying to achieve his goal. While living at the homeless shelter, he found work as a day laborer. Later, he obtained steady employment at a moving company. Within 10 months after starting the experiment, he had an apartment, a pickup truck, and close to $5,000 in savings.

Another response to the book came from Charles Platt, author and former senior editor at Wired Magazine, who took an entry-level job at a Wal-Mart store and recounted his experience on the blog Boing Boing. While his account reaffirmed some of Ehrenreich's experience, including the low pay and tedious nature of the job, Platt also reported positive experiences with supervisors, safety training incentives, and employee autonomy and treatment.^[2]