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NPR's Book of the Day

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At the table this season

NEW Season 1 Oct 16, 2026 · 19 min

'Nickel and Dimed' and 'The Case for Quitting' reconsider our relationship to work

Today’s episode features two books – one classic and one new – that might lead you to reconsider your relationship to work. Nearly 25 years ago, journalist and activist Barbara Ehrenreich went undercover as a nursing aide, waitress, hotel maid and retail worker to write Nickel and Dimed. Here & Now’s Scott Tong spoke with Alissa Quart about Ehrenreich’s legacy and why the author took issue with the term “unskilled” labor. Then, Lindsay Crouse is the author of The Case for Quitting. She spoke with NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer about how quitting and perseverance can be complimentary options. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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