Barbara Ehrenreich Books
Barbara Ehrenreich is an award-winning American author and journalist who has written over 20 books. She wrote Smile or Die following her diagnosis of breast cancer, when she discovered that the positive thinking rooted in cancer care can stifle the expression of a person’s true emotions.
What's Smile or Die about?
Smile or Die (2009) explores the impact of positive thinking on mainstream American culture. These blinks show how Americans have convinced themselves that they alone are in control of their happiness, buying into a mass delusion which in the end only does them harm.
Who should read Smile or Die?
- Anyone curious about the roots of American optimism
- Professionals who question positive attitudes promoted at the workplace
- People annoyed when told to “be more positive”
What's Nickel & Dimed about?
Nickel and Dimed (2001) offers a first-hand account of low-income life in America. The author went underground to learn why a huge number of hard-working people must struggle to earn enough money to live a comfortable life, eat decent food and afford the most basic shelter. We may take them for granted, but the people earning the minimum wage are the nation’s backbone, serving our food, cleaning up after us and stocking the supermarket shelves.
Who should read Nickel & Dimed?
- Sociologists interested in wage discrepancy
- Journalists looking for inspiration
- Employees and employers
Natural Causes
What's Natural Causes about?
Natural Causes (2018) reveals the truth behind the medical world’s encouragement of common procedures, treatments and screenings. It scrutinizes why Western society is averse to aging and obsessed with exercising, and, along the way, explores the effects of modernity on our mental capabilities.
Who should read Natural Causes?
- People over the age of 60
- Those interested in the social influence of modern medicine
- People who spend a lot of time concerned about their health
What's Dancing in the Streets about?
Dancing in the Streets (2008) explores the deep-rooted origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture, highlighting universal elements like carnival, music-making, and dance. It reveals how such practices were integral to Western traditions – from the ancient Greek worship of Dionysus to medieval Christianity as a “danced religion”.
Who should read Dancing in the Streets?
- Cultural historians interested in the social and cultural evolution of civilizations
- Social activists keen to reclaim our legacy of community and collective joy
- Artists and performers delving into the cultural contexts of their creative practice