Bait and Switch

The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream

by: Barbara Ehrenreich

in: Sociology

Summary:

The book chronicles the author's undercover investigation into the world of white-collar unemployment in America, revealing the struggles of job-seekers and the harsh realities of the job market, including the ineffectiveness of career coaching and the emotional toll of prolonged unemployment. It exposes the precarious nature of the middle-class job market and critiques the corporate culture that perpetuates insecurity and the myth of the "American Dream."

Key points:

1. Middle class vulnerability: Ehrenreich shows how white-collar workers can quickly lose job security and struggle to find new employment, challenging the idea of a stable, upwardly mobile middle class.

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