UKC

I heard her on radio Scotland on Sunday morning and I must say she came across very well.

I hadn't heard of her before and don't know much about her.

What are folks opinions? Worthwhile buying one of her longer works and if so which one(s)?

Ta.

I bought Nickel and Dimes for my Dad and I read a bit of the start of it - I admired her premise but it seemed that there a contrived falseness about her execution. I should not judge though, as I didn't read it all. My Dad was of the same opinion. 
I don't know her other works

I think Nickel and Dimed is well worth reading, I'm not sure why Straggler thought it was contrived, unless it's because she's a comfortably off writer posing as a menial worker in order to do the research - but that's the whole point of the book. It does  a good job of describing just how hard life is for poor people in the richest country in the world.

I've also read Dancing in the Streets and Smile or Die, I'd recommend both.

You might be onto something there. After posting I read her essay 'Welcome to Cancerland'. It's about the infantilisation of breast cancer patients and the commodification of the disease. I too liked the premise but although I didn't find it contrived I didn't think she quite pulled it off. I got that she was angry but not enough insight into why she was angry.

Still good enough to make me want to try something else though.

Thanks, I might download a sample to my kindle to see if I get on with it.

Did you read my post properly? I openly admitted I had not read beyond the first 10 or so pages, I stated that I had therefore had no right to comment, and hopefully overall I put across the idea that I still praise Barbara. I only posted because the OP had not received any response for about 56 hours . Seems that I bumped the post usefully 

Also, genuine thanks for posting . I’ll look up those other works that you mention 

Thanks.

Despite my positive reviews, I should point out that Ehrenreich does have a pretty clear agenda in Nickel and Dimed. It's not a balanced view. She tries a similar approach for white collar workers in Bait and Switch, but I didn't find that nearly as convincing.

I thought Nickel and Dimed was (is) well worth a read but I too found it s bit too full of the author, if that makes sense. Gonzo journalism obviously has this as a core component but I didn't think she came across particularly well; I agree with the thrust of her argument (being poor in America is a grim trap) but I don't think the author would be much fun at a party.

It's less to the point than The Road to Wigan peir, for example.

Do you think Orwell would be much fun at a party?

I did snort with laughter at the bit at the end of Wigan Pier where he rants about vegetarian cranks in the socialist movement.

He'd be less sanctimonious than Barbera but yeah, judging by the rest of his work I suspect he'd drag the tone down a bit.

I'd forgotten about that part!