I recently finished reading "Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich. As you can probably tell by the title, it was about being poor in the USA. The author decides to walk some miles in the shoes of the working poor, so she goes to various places around the country and works various close-to-minimum-wage jobs. The purposes of the exercise are myriad, but she finds that it is incredibly hard for someone to live on wages earned in entry-level positions. After reading this, I can't imagine how a non-college-educated, resume-less, welfare-to-work single mother would be able to make it. And there are quite a few of them out there trying to make it.

Good read.

Tara

I read this book about a year ago and would also recommend it. I often recommend it to colleagues and clients. Definitely makes you think. I will never think of Merry Maids type places or Walmart the same again.

I just read it on y'all's recommendations. I have to say that I don't think the writing was the best (was she trying to prove something with all her big words, like she really didn't belong in those jobs and wanted to be sure no one would mistake her for someone who would??) but other than that, it really did make you think.
There really is a big switch when you go from blue collar type jobs to white collar. (I've worked both.) When you're blue collar, the management wants to know what you can do for them and you need to prove why you'd be good for them. With white collar, it's more them saying why you'd like it there and what they have to offer you.
Anyway, after reading the book, it made me feel like it is worth helping out those who are less fortunate.