As a whole, the attempt to address whether or not it is feasible to maintain a lifestyle by working minimum wage jobs was a good idea.

It was an interesting social experiment. BUT…

I think a major part of grinding one’s way through hard times with low income comes from within-through determination and hope. I refuse to accept, although she makes several valid arguments, that it is not reasonable to maintain a lifestyle (for one person) on minimum wage.

Of course it’s hard, and there is plenty of space left to make arguments against being able to “make it” but she fails to take into consideration what it’s actually like to LIVE through this type of lifestyle. Her one year experiment does not translate into the life of someone else. The power of hope, and help from other people can go a long way.

Although the book provided an interesting perspective on the hardships of working minimum wage jobs, her overall argument is much to pessimistic for the already pessimistic world today.