The real-life Nickel and Dimedthe author of the wildly popular Poverty Thoughts essay tells what its like to be working poor in America. ONE OF THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS OF THE YEAR–Esquire

DEVASTATINGLY SMART AND FUNNY. I am the author of Nickel and Dimed, which tells the story of my own brief attempt, as a semi-undercover journalist, to survive on low-wage retail and service jobs. TIRADO IS THE REAL THING.Barbara Ehrenreich, from the Foreword

As the haves and have-nots grow more separate and unequal in America, the working poor dont get heard from much. Now they have a voiceand its forthright, funny, and just a little bit furious.

Here, Linda Tirado tells what its like, day after day, to work, eat, shop, raise kids, and keep a roof over your head without enough money. She also answers questions often asked about those who live on or near minimum wage: Why dont they get better jobs? Why dont they make better choices? Why do they smoke cigarettes and have ugly lawns? Why dont they borrow from their parents?

Enlightening and entertaining, Hand to Mouthopens up a new and much-needed dialogue between the people who just dont have it and the people who just dont get it.