Free Essays on Barbara Ehrenreich

Book Critique I’ve never read one of Barbara Ehrenreich’s books but I might have to check one of them out after reading Nickeled and Dimed. I admired the argument, actually enjoyed reading for a change, and also learned a lot from every page. When I finished the book, I looked at it as what I only can call loathing. Writing up for the rich the results of an upper class essayist’s anthropological mission to see how the other half live is worthwhile. It is part of the task of affiliating the comfortable, which needs to be carried out much more strongly if we are ever to have a better society. The point of Ehrenreich’s rapiers of intellect, art, and wit are ever more prevalent when she points out that even so-called â€Å"unskilled† work- is demanding and challenging: the memory skills required of a waitress, the physical labor of a house cleaner with a vacuum on her back, and the patience of a wal-mart â€Å"zoner† hanging up the same blouse for the nin th time can push human capacities close to their limits- and for the truly lousy pay. I feel that the focus or purpose of her writings were to remind her readers that every job is worth doing well, and that people who do it well deserve respect: â€Å"†¦when I wake up at 4 A.M. in my own cold sweat, I am thinking of the table where I screwed up the order and one of the kids didn’t get his kiddie meal until the rest of the family had moved on to their Key lime pies.† That is something that her readers need to hear more often. So maybe the next time their (the readers) order isn’t perfect they’ll show a little patience and understanding, with their waiter or waitress. Mrs. Ehrenreich often found it a struggle to make ends meet even though she was working two jobs, seven days a week. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. A white, middle aged, capable woman with dependable transportation can’t support herself working two jobs. Even she admits that she... Free Essays on Barbara Ehrenreich Free Essays on Barbara Ehrenreich Book Critique I’ve never read one of Barbara Ehrenreich’s books but I might have to check one of them out after reading Nickeled and Dimed. I admired the argument, actually enjoyed reading for a change, and also learned a lot from every page. When I finished the book, I looked at it as what I only can call loathing. Writing up for the rich the results of an upper class essayist’s anthropological mission to see how the other half live is worthwhile. It is part of the task of affiliating the comfortable, which needs to be carried out much more strongly if we are ever to have a better society. The point of Ehrenreich’s rapiers of intellect, art, and wit are ever more prevalent when she points out that even so-called â€Å"unskilled† work- is demanding and challenging: the memory skills required of a waitress, the physical labor of a house cleaner with a vacuum on her back, and the patience of a wal-mart â€Å"zoner† hanging up the same blouse for the nin th time can push human capacities close to their limits- and for the truly lousy pay. I feel that the focus or purpose of her writings were to remind her readers that every job is worth doing well, and that people who do it well deserve respect: â€Å"†¦when I wake up at 4 A.M. in my own cold sweat, I am thinking of the table where I screwed up the order and one of the kids didn’t get his kiddie meal until the rest of the family had moved on to their Key lime pies.† That is something that her readers need to hear more often. So maybe the next time their (the readers) order isn’t perfect they’ll show a little patience and understanding, with their waiter or waitress. Mrs. Ehrenreich often found it a struggle to make ends meet even though she was working two jobs, seven days a week. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. A white, middle aged, capable woman with dependable transportation can’t support herself working two jobs. Even she admits that she...

Time Management Tips for Graduate Students

Time Management Tips for Graduate Students All academics, graduate students, and faculty alike struggle with the challenge of managing their time. New graduate students are often amazed at how much there is to do each day: classes, research, study groups, meetings with professors, reading, writing, and attempts at a social life. Many students believe that it will get better after they graduate, but, unfortunately, most people report being even busier as new professors, researchers, and professionals. With so much to do and so little time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But dont let stress and deadlines overtake your life. How to Avoid Burnout My best advice for avoiding burnout and getting bogged down is to keep track of your time: Record your days and maintain daily progress towards your goals. The simple term for this is time management. Many people dislike this term, but, call it what you will, managing yourself is essential to your success in grad school. Use a Calendar System By now, you probably use a calendar to keep track of weekly appointments and meetings. Grad school requires taking a long-term perspective on time. Use a yearly, monthly, and weekly calendar. Year Scale. Its difficult to keep track of today and remember what needs to be done in six months. Long term deadlines for financial aid, conference submission, and grant proposals creep up quickly! Dont find yourself surprised to realize that your comprehensive exams are in a few weeks. Plan at least two years ahead with a yearly calendar, divided into months. Add all long-term deadlines on this calendar.Month Scale. Your monthly calendar should include all paper deadlines, test dates, and appointments so that you can plan ahead. Add self-imposed deadlines for completing long-term projects like papers.Week Scale. Most academic planners use a weekly scale of measurement. Your weekly calendar includes your day-to-day appointments and deadlines. Have a study group on Thursday afternoon? Record it here. Carry your weekly calendar everywhere. Use a To-Do List Your to-do list will keep you moving towards your goals on a daily basis. Take 10 minutes every night and make a to-do list for the next day. Look at your calendar for the next couple of weeks to remember tasks that need to be planned in advance: searching for literature for that term paper,  buying and sending birthday cards, and preparing submissions to conferences and grants. Your to-do list is your friend; never leave home without it. Prioritize your to-do list. Rank each item by importance and attack your list accordingly so that you dont waste time on non-essential tasks.Schedule time to work on classes and research each day, even if it is just a few 20-minute blocks. Think you cant get much done in 20 minutes? Youd be surprised. Whats more important is that the material will stay fresh in your mind, enabling you to reflect on it at unexpected times (like on your ride to school or walk to the library).Be flexible. Allow time for interruptions and distractions. Aim to plan just 50 percent or less of your time so that youll have the flexibility to handle unexpected interruptions. When youre distracted by a new task or something that you need to remember, write it down and get back to work. Dont let a flight of ideas keep you from completing the task at hand. When youre interrupted by others or seemingly urgent tasks, ask yourself, What is the most important thing I can do right now? Whats most urgent? Use your ans wer to plan your time and get back on track. Time management doesnt have to be a dirty word. Use these simple techniques to get things done your way.