Week 4 (11/18-11/22) Mind Openers: One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is the way it can open your eyes to the world around you–-no plane ticket required. What nonfiction book or books have impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way? Is there one book that made you rethink everything? Is there a book that, if everyone read it, you think the world would be a better place?
This week’s discussions are hosted by Rebekah at She Seeks Nonfiction.
Here are two nonfiction books that have opened my eyes and mind, and changed the way I think and live.
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
From Barbara Ehrenreich I learned just how difficult life can be for poor people living from paycheck to paycheck. They are often just one paycheck away from homelessness, living in weekly-rental motels rather than in apartments. Overall, the cost of 4 weeks in a motel is often more than the monthly rent of an apartment. But, with minimum-wage jobs, people cannot ever accumulate the first month’s rent + a second month’s rent for a security deposit required up front to get into an apartment. In addition, the limited cooking facilities in such motels often force them to eat mainly fast food; such a diet is both more expensive and less healthy for them and their families.
Tell Me a Story: The Life Shaping Power of Our Stories by Daniel Taylor
This book dramatically changed my life by introducing me to the concept of life stories and their effect on how we see ourselves, the world, and our place in the world. Discovering life stories sent me back to school for a late-life doctorate, where I learned how four main sources—home, school, religion, and popular culture—contribute to the ongoing creation of our life stories. And, probably most importantly, Taylor’s book taught me how broken or unhealthy stories can be rewritten and healed.
© 2024 by Mary Daniels Brown
Have you read Evicted by Matthew Desmond? I think that is a great one to pair with Nickle and Dimed.
Tell Me a Story Sounds so interesting – I will have to check that out!
I haven’t read Evicted, but the title suggests that it probably is a good companion to Nickel and Dime. Thanks for reading and commenting, Marie.
Yes–Nickel and Dimed was an eye opener for me too when I read it. (I’ve had Evicted on my list for awhile but haven’t gotten around to it yet.) I’m adding Tell Me a Story to my to-read list now. Thanks!
I work with people everyday facing eviction and it is heartbreakingly easy to go from “fine” to homeless in this economy. Watching the safety nets evaporate post pandemic has been even more heartbreaking – because we know we can put them in place and we are choosing not to. Great pick.
Oh yes, Nickel and Dimed was an eye-opener. I wish everyone who makes decisions about wages would read that.