Thank you for a thoughtful and educational article. Upton SInclair isn't fun to read, but his work had an important impact. Ehrenreich's works are easier to read and also have a positive impact.

I keep hearing about this book, and all the bad things it contains. I have decided to pick it up for myself, just bought it on my Nook, and give it a read. I want to see, for myself, why this book has such a bad name.

"If you’ve never had E. coli from tainted food, thank Upton Sinclair."

I have, but only when I wasn't the cook.

Its always a good idea to read books from ALL genres not just right wing bubble books. Then that would make somebody a close minded fool. Remember there was a time when people thought the world was flat, any other thought would bring upon death.

The fact that this book may be banned is insulting the intelligents of our high school students. The potential banning sends the message that students are incapable of thinking critically about the text. If this assumption happens to be true for some students, then the teacher should take it upon themselves to teach the students to think critically and go below the surface and not to take everything at face value. Having a wealthy journalist take part in low wage jobs where the "lower class" dwells will create some bias and form an idea of "us" verses "them" which is clearly an incredibly negative idea. But, on the flip side this book may create an understanding on how the "others" live. Banning the book will do nothing but make the students want to read it even more (being only 3 years out of high school I know this first hand (Freedom HS graduate) ). Like I mentioned in the previous article posted about "Nickled and Dimed" I would not agree on banning the book because it helps students to grasp the obstacles that lower class workers face.

this book is not Huckleberry Finn.... its a publicity stunt by the publisher to expand sales

Thank you so much for point out in print something I've been thinking for ages. There is so much in Shakespeare and other classic authors that is racier than anything in some of the modern books being challenged today. Hamlet is a perfect example. I'm guessing people have never read or perhaps understood the language in these.

And "Titus Andronicus" makes "Hamlet" look like Mister Rogers Neighborhood.

While Shakespeare should be read by all students, I must point out that Mr. Adams is incorrect if he is claiming that it should be read in this AP English Language curriculum. The AP English Language class is meant for the analysis of nonfiction books, not fiction. While some of Shakespeare's histories may or may not be nonficton, plays are not a part of the AP test.

If you want to present a sanitzed version of the world send your kids to Christian school. Let the rest of us discuss subjects in a mature and rational manner.

"Protecting" kids from things always works out worse than confronting them with it. People who try to keep their kids in a bubble are really, really doing it wrong.

Here's information on a book written specifically to refute "Nickel and Dimed". Those of you who want the opposing view presented can, I am sure, request or suggest this be added to the curriculum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scratch_Beginnings

"Scratch Beginnings" by Adam Shepard is a book to compare N&D with. He did a similar project rejecting BE's premise and wrote without the vulgarity contained in N&D.
So, it is possible to have this discussion in schools without drug use instruction and belittling Christianity. Even still, I think college is a better fit for such a forum...not high school funded by the tax payers.
Other controversial books could be used which actually teach history at the same time. "The Summer of 1776" is a fascinating read full of controversy and surrounding the creation of our constitution. Why not consider books like this to spur discussion while learning our American History...unsanitized by the text book white-washers?

My parents, not my teachers, required me to read this book when I was in high school, more than a decade ago. Somehow I managed to escape the indoctrination that the high school students now required to read it will surely succumb to, and I did not become a Communist. I still managed to go to college, earn both a bachelor's degree and an advanced degree, and become a professional, productive member of society.

Oh, the evils that will surely come if students are exposed to ideas different from the ones that they are surrounded by on a daily basis. College surely won't do that for them a year from now. (And if these students are in an AP class, they are almost certainly headed for college.)

Wouldn't it be terrible if people were actually paid a living wage for the (often back-breaking) work they do? Just imagine the chaos that would ensue.

Seriously, folks, get a grip.

Socialism is not a dirty word or concept nor something that should be treated like profanity or lewdness.

Gruntled:

I often get accused of being a liberal, and yeah, there are some points on which I lean that way, and other...not so much at all. What I can say is that I *loathe* knee-jerkers and mouth-frothers on BOTH sides of the political (and religious, for that matter) aisles.

I came across a quote that was used to describe Fred (Mister) Rogers, and I think it should be tattooed on the foreheads of *every* US politician:

"Live by example, and don't beat people over the head with your beliefs".

And on that note, I "belief" I'll open a bottle of wine and read the "Vogue" spring fashion issue ;)

Hmm...I came here to address a post from Rosemary, and I see it's been removed. Heh.

Rosemary,

.....you know we're just talking about a book, right?

Um. OK.

There's a lot of strange going on there.

The term socialism is thrown around today like it's some strange dirty word. Because the country embraces some programs with socialist principles does not make it a socialist nation. The public school system, medicare, social security, police, firefighters, etc. are all devised in a "socialist" fashion. Why don't you get off that stupid line of reasoning. It's a book. Do you "socialists" want the government and schools to suppress the first amendment?

Dear srodham69, You said,"It's a book. Do you "socialists" want the government and schools to suppress the first amendment?"
No one is asking the schools to supress the 1st amendment. No one is asking the schools to censor information. Every curriculum has a limited amount of books which will fit into it. At some point thousands of books are narrowd down to hundreds and tens to select the best possible literature for a curriculum.
1. This book is not literature. It is editorial and opinion. (Like Ann Coulter, my favorite author) I would argue against Ann Coulter's books being part of a school curriculum as well...for the same reason that it is current affairs editorial opinion...not literature.
2. The decision was made to "remove" another book to make room for this one in the curriculum. Was the school board labeled "book burners" when they decided to remove whatever book N&D replaced. No. The argument and accusations that anyone wants to stifle Free Speech are ridiculous and unfounded. Keep it in the library. Those who want to seek it out can. Don't force feed socialism, drug use, and belittleing of religons as part of a tax payer funded curriculum.

OK - that's it. I'm going to re-read N&D. I'm clearly suffering from early dementia, because I could have sworn the book was about the difficulties of trying live on a minimum wage salary, and all the attendant issues and problems. Apparently, though, it was only about the wholesale use of drugs, stuffing socialism down the necks of impressionable youth and mocking the tenets and beliefs of Christians.

I'm going to clear this up ... for *myself*.

Pam, I think you're correct. My children haven't read the book in school, but I've read it. My children read about the effects of racism (To Kill a Mockingbird), teen suicide (Romeo and Juliet) and other less controversial issues. But I've read N&D and I have no idea what she's talking about.

I was a low pay worker and nothing in her book is wrong. Your worked like a dog for long hours and chump change pay. I usually made 5 thousand a year,the most I ever made in a year is 11 thousand.And no I was never exempted from income tax,I paid out every year. Let the kids read it,it is the best argument for (affordable)college education