Biography

Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941) is a pioneer in the genre of investigative journalism. Her international breakthrough came in 2001 with her book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, for which she spent months trying to survive on her earnings from what society calls ‘unskilled work’. In her subsequent work she often applied this technique of ‘immersion journalism’, as it is now known, for instance to highlight the obstacles encountered by the American middle class in scaling the social ladder. A common thread running through her impressive body of work is the deceptive myth of the American dream. Recurring themes in her essays and books are: the labor market, healthcare, poverty, and the position of women. Such themes are now more important than ever. Among her most important works are: Nickel and Dimed, On (Not) Getting By in America (2001); Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream (2005); and Smile or Die (2009), on the dangers of ‘positive thinking’ at the expense of, among other things, adequate healthcare. In her most recent book Natural Causes (2018), she describes the senseless resistance to growing old. Through her choice of subject and working methods, Ehrenreich is an inspiring example for journalists all over the world.